Document Detail


Clash of definitions: controversies about conscience in medicine.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18098008     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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.
Authors:
Ryan E Lawrence; Farr A Curlin
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of bioethics : AJOB     Volume:  7     ISSN:  1536-0075     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Bioeth     Publication Date:  2007 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-12-21     Completed Date:  2008-01-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100898738     Medline TA:  Am J Bioeth     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  10-4     Citation Subset:  E; IM    
Affiliation:
Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Christianity
Conscience*
Dissent and Disputes
Ethics, Clinical
Ethics, Medical
Humans
Islam
Judaism
Moral Obligations
Negotiating
Personal Autonomy*
Physicians / ethics*,  psychology
Refusal to Treat* / ethics,  legislation & jurisprudence
Religion and Medicine*
Social Responsibility*
United States
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):19-21; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098011 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):32-3; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098018 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):30-1; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098017 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):28-9; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098016 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):17-9; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098010 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):21-2; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098012 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):23-4; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098013 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):24-6; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098014 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):33-4; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098019 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):15-7; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098009 ]
Am J Bioeth. 2007 Dec;7(12):26-7; discussion W1-2   [PMID:  18098015 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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