Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care

Book chapter


Symons, Xavier. (2018). Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care. In In Grant, Bligh, Drew, Joseph and Christensen, Helen E. (Ed.). Applied ethics in the fractured state : Volume 20 pp. 45-54 Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020004
AuthorsSymons, Xavier
EditorsGrant, Bligh, Drew, Joseph and Christensen, Helen E.
Abstract

Much ink has been spilled in recent years over the controversial topic of conscientious objection in health care. In particular, commentators have proposed various ways with which we might distinguish legitimate conscience claims from those that are poorly reasoned or based on prejudice. The aim of this chapter is to argue in favor of the “reasonableness” approach to conscientious objection, viz., the view that we should develop an account of “reasonableness” and “reasonable disagreement” and use this as a way of distinguishing licit and illicit conscience claims. The author discusses Rawls’ account of “reasonableness” and “reasonable disagreement,” and consider how this might guide us in regulating conscientious objection in health care. The author analyzes the “public reason” account offered in Card (2007, 2014), and argue that we should modify Card’s account to include a consensus among regulators about what counts as “basic medical care.” The author suggests that Medical Conscientious Objection Review boards should consider whether conscience-based refusals are based on defensible ethical foundations.

Keywordsabortion; codes of ethics; conscience; ethics; ethics committees; euthanasia; religion
Page range45-54
Year2018
Book titleApplied ethics in the fractured state : Volume 20
PublisherEmerald Group Publishing Ltd
Place of publication United Kingdom
Edition1st
ISBN9781787695993
9781787696006
1787695999
1787696006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020004
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85064433166
Research or scholarlyResearch
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All rights reserved
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Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online12 Nov 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited06 Sep 2021
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