Table 6 Legal Reasons
Legal Reasons | |
|---|---|
Safeguarding conscience (+ 6/−1; rm.:23) | |
+ | Ethical dilemma can be addressed (7) |
+ | Protects HCP’s conscience (4) |
+ | Acknowledges legitimacy of conscience at institutional level (4) |
+ | Protection for individuals’ consciences (3) |
- | Authorises discriminatory refusals (2) |
+ | Should encourage ethical deliberation (2) |
+ | Provides a basis for professional grounds of CO (1) |
Legality argument (+ 2/−2; rm.:14) | |
- | HCP must suspend prolife conscience (5) |
- | Requires professionals who make it available (5) |
+ | Codified conscience laws are just as legal as abortion (3) |
+ | Legality is not a binary concept (1) |
Critique of the conscience clause (+ 0/−2; rm.:2) | |
- | Licenses harm to patients (3) |
- | Overlooks patient’s moral integrity (3) |