Personal Beliefs Flashcards
Can Doctors practise medicine in accordance with their own personal beliefs?
Yes, provided that:
- They do not treat patients unfairly
- Do not deny patients access to appropriate medical treatment or services
- Do not cause patients distress
What are the principles of conscientious objection?
You may choose to opt out of providing a particular procedure because of your personal beliefs and values, as long as this does not result in direct or indirect discrimination against, or harassment of, individual patients or groups of patients. This means you must not refuse to treat a particular patient or group of patients because of your personal beliefs or views about them. And you must not refuse to treat the health consequences of lifestyle choices to which you object because of your beliefs. If, having taken account of your legal and ethical obligations, you wish to exercise a conscientious objection to particular services or procedures, you must do your best to make sure that patients who may consult you about it are aware of your objection in advance. You can do this by making sure that any printed material about your practice and the services you provide explains if there are any services you will not normally provide because of a conscientious objection. You should also be open with employers, partners or colleagues about your conscientious objection. You should explore with them how you can practise in accordance with your beliefs without compromising patient care and without overburdening colleagues.
What are a patients’ rights surrounding a Doctor’s conscientious objection?
Patients have a right to information about their condition and the options open to them. If you have a conscientious objection to a treatment or procedure that may be clinically appropriate for the patient, you must do the following:
- Tell the patient that you do not provide the treatment, being careful not to cause distress. You can mention the reason, but must not imply judgement.
- Tell the patient they have a right to discuss their condition and options for treatment with another practitioner.
- Ensure the patient has enough information to arrange to see another doctor who does not hold the same objections.
What should the objecting Doctor do if it is not practical for a patient to arrange to see another Doctor?
You must make sure
that arrangements are made – without delay – for another suitably qualified colleague to advise, treat or refer the patient.
You must bear in mind the patient’s vulnerability and act promptly to make sure they are not denied appropriate treatment or services.
If the patient has a disability, you should make reasonable adjustments to your practice to allow them to receive care to meet their needs
Does conscientious objection apply in emergency situations?
No.
You must not refuse to provide treatment necessary to save the life of, or prevent serious deterioration in the health of, a person because the treatment conflicts with your personal beliefs.
How could a patient’s personal beliefs affect their healthcare?
Personal beliefs may lead them to ask for a procedure for mainly religious, cultural or social reasons or to refuse treatment that you judge to be of overall benefit to them.
How do you approach procedures provided for religious/cultural reasons?
If patients (or those with parental responsibility for them) ask for a procedure, such as circumcision of male children, for mainly religious or cultural reasons, you should discuss with them the benefits, risks and side effects of the procedure. You should usually provide procedures that patients request and that you assess to be of overall benefit to the patient. If the patient is a child, you should usually provide a procedure or treatment that you assess to be in their best interests. In all circumstances, you will also need the patient’s or parental consent. In assessing what is of overall benefit to adult patients, you must take into account their cultural/religious or other beliefs and values. If the patient is a child, you must proceed on the basis of the best interests of the child and with consent. Assessing best interests will include the child’s and/or the parents’ cultural, religious or other beliefs and values. You should get the child’s consent if they have the maturity and understanding to give it. If not, you should get consent from all those with parental responsibility. If you cannot get consent for a procedure, for example, because the parents cannot agree and disputes cannot be resolved informally, you should inform the child’s parents that you cannot provide the service unless you have authorisation from the court and advise the child’s parents to seek legal advice.
What do you do if you decide a procedure (with cultural/religious basis) is not appropriate?
Explain this to the child if they can understand and to their parents. If you don’t believe it’s of overall benefit to an adult, you must explain this to them.
What must you do if a patient refuses treatment?
You must respect a competent patients decision to refuse an investigation/treatment, even if you think their decision is wrong or irrational. You may advise them of your clinical opinion, but not put pressure on them to accept your advice.
Must ensure that your words and actions do not imply judgement.
What should you do if a child who lacks capacity to make a decision is refused consent for treatment by their parents on the grounds of their religious/moral beliefs?
You must discuss their concerns and look for treatment options that will accommodate their beliefs. You should involve the child in a way appropriate to their age and maturity. If following a discussion of all the options you cannot reach an agreement, and treatment is essential to preserve life or prevent serious deterioration in health, you should seek advice on approaching the court.
What should you do in an emergency when you don’t have parental consent to save a child who’s parents object on religious/moral grounds?
In an emergency, you can provide treatment that is immediately necessary to save life or prevent deterioration in health without consent or, in exceptional circumstances, against the wishes of a person with parental responsibility.
