A Right to Conscience?

Word out of Washington that in the final days of his presidency, Dubya may expand the right of doctors and other health care workers to refuse to perform any medical procedure that violates their moral conscience. Procedures such as abortion and artificial insemination are at the center of this debate.

Opponents argue that such an expanded law would sacrifice patient care quality on the altar of the doctor's/nurse's/other's religious beliefs. Health care managers argue that an expansion of the law would invite chaos if any health care worker could refuse to perform any part of their job as a conscientious objector.

My take on this debate is purely practical: it seems to me that there must be enough doctors and other health care workers who have no objection to abortion, artificial insemination, or other controversial medical procedures to provide them to anyone who wants one.

I doubt that forcing a doctor to perform a procedure to which he/she has moral objections is good for patient care quality. Whenever I undergo a medical procedure, I want the doctor to be on MY side, rooting for me all the way.

If a patient wants a certain procedure performed, just choose a doctor/hospital who will do it gladly and professionally. Even if you succeed in legally forcing a doctor to act against his/her conscience, why would you trust yourself to his/her care?