The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

Volume 18, Issue 4, Winter 2018

Rev. Paschal M. Corby, OFM Conv.
Pages 611-618

The Imperative of Conscientious Objection in Medical Practice

In response to a growing movement opposed to conscientious objection in medicine, the medical profession should resist the privatization of conscience in general and accept the challenge, presented by conscientious objection, of rethinking its practices and being true to its calling. These claims are informed by the traditional understanding of conscience and the thought of Jürgen Habermas on the relevance of religious truths in public debate and the legitimacy of public dissent.