Clash of definitions: controversies about conscience in medicine.

Full Abstract

What role should the physician's conscience play in the practice of medicine? Much controversy has surrounded the question, yet little attention has been paid to the possibility that disputants are operating with contrasting definitions of the conscience. To illustrate this divergence, we contrast definitions stemming from Abrahamic religions and those stemming from secular moral tradition. Clear differences emerge regarding what the term conscience conveys, how the conscience should be informed, and what the consequences are for violating one's conscience. Importantly, these basic disagreements underlie current controversies regarding the role of the clinician's conscience in the practice of medicine. Consequently participants in ongoing debates would do well to specify their definitions of the conscience and the reasons for and implications of those definitions. This specification would allow participants to advance a more philosophically and theologically robust conversation about the means and ends of medicine.

Author information

Author/s: Lawrence, Ryan E (RE); Curlin, Farr A (FA);

Affiliation: Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of bioethics : AJOB (Am J Bioeth), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Dec; vol 7 (issue 12) : pp 10-4

Dates: Created 2007/12/21; Completed 2008/01/22;

PMID: 18098008, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):15-7; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098009)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):17-9; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098010)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):19-21; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098011)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):21-2; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098012)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):23-4; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098013)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):24-6; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098014)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):26-7; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098015)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):28-9; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098016)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):30-1; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098017)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):32-3; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098018)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):33-4; discussion W1-2. (PMID: 18098019)

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