Contemporary law and ethics protects the rights of medical…

Question Answered step-by-step Contemporary law and ethics protects the rights of medical… Contemporary law and ethics protects the rights of medical professionals to practice per their conscience.  This has translated into clinicians refusing to participate in medical procedures that they believe to be unethical or morally represensible (such as terminating a pregnancy, performing a sterilization, or refusing to dispense certain medications).  While we do want clinicians to be ethical and attuned to moral aspects of their professions, there is controversy about the extent to which a clinician can refuse a particular practice.  Ethics is also concerned about paternalism – individual or state decisions that limit patient autonomy (which can only be limited in narrow and highly compelling circumstances, such as a patient requesting medically inappropriate or unreasonable care, a patient being a danger to themselves or others, etc.).  This creates a conflict between protected principles – the conscience of the practitioner directly conflicts with the patient’s right of self-determination.  Should a medical professional be permitted to override a patient’s desire to obtain an ethically-controversial but medically-justified service or procedure? Health Science Science Nursing NURS 608 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)