Healthcare Right of Conscience
Reproduced with permission
Respect for conscientiously held beliefs of individuals and for
individual differences is an essential part of our free society. The right
of choice is foundational in our healthcare process, and it applies to both
healthcare professionals and patients alike. Issues of conscience arise when
some aspect of medical care is in conflict with the personal beliefs and
values of the patient or the healthcare professional. CMDA believes that in
such circumstances the Rights of Conscience have priority.
Patient's Right of Conscience
The right of competent patients on the basis of conscience to refuse
treatment, even when such refusal would likely bring harm to themselves,
should be respected.
The right of competent patients on the basis of conscience to refuse
treatment, when such refusal would likely threaten the health and/or life of
others, should be resisted and should become a matter of public interest and
responsibility.
The right of a healthcare surrogate on the basis of conscience to refuse
treatment, thereby threatening the health and/or life of another, should be
resisted and should become a matter of public interest and responsibility
The Healthcare Professional's Right of Conscience
All healthcare professionals have the right to refuse to participate in
situations or procedures that they believe to be morally wrong and/or
harmful to the patient or others. In such circumstances, healthcare
professionals have an obligation to ensure that the patient's records are
transferred to the healthcare professional of the patient's choice.
The Healthcare Institution's Right of Conscience
Healthcare institutions have the right to refuse to provide services that
are contrary to their foundational beliefs.
Healthcare institutions have the obligation to disclose the services they
would refuse to give.
Healthcare institutions should not lose public funding as a result of
exercising their right of conscience
Healthcare Education Right of Conscience
Institutions, educators and trainees should be allowed to refuse to
participate in policies and procedures that they deem morally objectionable
without threat of reprisal.
Healthcare professionals at all levels should seek to learn about and
understand policies and procedures that they deem morally objectionable.
No organization or governing body should mandate participation in
policies or procedures that violate conscience.
CMDA believes Christian healthcare professionals in our society should give
dual service* to a Holy God and the humanity He created and sustains. We
believe the Christian healthcare professional's conscience should be
informed by available evidence and Scripture. We believe obedience to
conscience is obligatory for all Christians.
Approved by the House of
Representatives June 11, 2004 53 approvals; 2 abstentions.