The Role of Conscience in Medical Decisions
St. Joseph Medical Center
Kansas City, MO, USA
6 August, 2009
Creative Commons Licence*
Daniel P. Sulmasy, OFM, MD, PhD*
Does conscience ever clash with professional duties? What do we mean by
terms such as 'conscience' and 'conscientious objection'? How should one
approach a request from a patient that conflicts with one's individual
conscience?
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a host of other health care
professionals face this dilemma all across America. While recently there has
been great interest in conflicts of conscience based upon religious beliefs,
conscience is a universal phenomenon, conflicts are ubiquitous, and,
fortunately, generally resolvable.
In this lecture, Dr. Daniel Sulmasy will discuss how medical
professionals can strive to preserve their moral integrity while also
respecting and serving patients with whom they might have deep moral
disagreements.