Conscientious Objection: Justified or Just Refusal to Care?

Abstract

In general terms, healthcare professionals are not at liberty to refuse to care for any patient (UKCC 2004). However, as the law permits patients to do what is morally and ethically right for them with regard to termination of pregnancy, it must also extend this right to the healthcare professional. The Abortion Act (1967, Section 4 (i)) permits healthcare professionals to refuse participation on the grounds of conscientious objection. As there is no statutory definition of conscientious objection, it is left to the individual to prove that they have an objection to being involved in terminations of pregnancy.