Conscientious Objection What happens if a health care provider refuses to perform an assigned task, citing moral grounds?
Conscientious Objection
What happens if a health care provider refuses to perform an assigned task, citing moral grounds? Few providers make this decision lightly. In addition to bringing the conscientious objector into conflict with his or her organization, this action can interfere with the rights and safety of patients.
For this Discussion, you will analyze the following scenario, assessing the legal and ethical challenges that can result from conscientious objection and proposing ways to address this as an administrator.
Harry Rogers, a pharmacist employed for six years in a small community hospital’s pharmacy, has told his supervisor that, because of a religious conversion that he has recently undergone, he cannot in good conscience fill any prescription written by a physician who performs abortions. Sometimes, though rarely, Rogers is the only pharmacist on duty during a shift.
The pharmacy supervisor comes to you, an administrator in human resources, to ask what to do. Assume that your state has a law that says the following: “The refusal of a licensed health care professional to participate in or assist a health care service for reasons of religious, moral, or ethical convictions is not grounds for civil or criminal liability or disciplinary action.”
To prepare for this Discussion:
•Review the article “Legal Protection for Conscientious Objection by Health Professionals,” noting the various arguments regarding conscientious objection.
Article: Grady, A. (2006). Legal protection for conscientious objection by health professionals. Virtual Mentor, 8(5), 327-331. Retrieved from http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2006/05/hlaw1-0605.html. Also available online at http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2006/05/pdf/hlaw1-0605.pdf as a PDF document.
•Consider the legal and ethical issues that the scenario of Harry Rogers presents. How might his choice impact patient care? What effect might it have on the rest of the organization, including the workload of other employees and financial or other business considerations?
•What do you think is legally and ethically the appropriate course to take?
****Post by Day 4 a response to the following:
•Summarize the challenges posed by this case, both legally and ethically, explaining who is impacted by the pharmacist’s decision, and how.
•What are the issues that complicate this case?
•How do the rights and interests of patients affect your view of the case?
•What advice would you give on this matter? Provide your rationale. What impact will your decision likely have on this organization?
What happens if a health care provider refuses to perform an assigned task, citing moral grounds? Few providers make this decision lightly. In addition to bringing the conscientious objector into conflict with his or her organization, this action can interfere with the rights and safety of patients.
For this Discussion, you will analyze the following scenario, assessing the legal and ethical challenges that can result from conscientious objection and proposing ways to address this as an administrator.
Harry Rogers, a pharmacist employed for six years in a small community hospital’s pharmacy, has told his supervisor that, because of a religious conversion that he has recently undergone, he cannot in good conscience fill any prescription written by a physician who performs abortions. Sometimes, though rarely, Rogers is the only pharmacist on duty during a shift.
The pharmacy supervisor comes to you, an administrator in human resources, to ask what to do. Assume that your state has a law that says the following: “The refusal of a licensed health care professional to participate in or assist a health care service for reasons of religious, moral, or ethical convictions is not grounds for civil or criminal liability or disciplinary action.”
To prepare for this Discussion:
•Review the article “Legal Protection for Conscientious Objection by Health Professionals,” noting the various arguments regarding conscientious objection.
Article: Grady, A. (2006). Legal protection for conscientious objection by health professionals. Virtual Mentor, 8(5), 327-331. Retrieved from http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2006/05/hlaw1-0605.html. Also available online at http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2006/05/pdf/hlaw1-0605.pdf as a PDF document.
•Consider the legal and ethical issues that the scenario of Harry Rogers presents. How might his choice impact patient care? What effect might it have on the rest of the organization, including the workload of other employees and financial or other business considerations?
•What do you think is legally and ethically the appropriate course to take?
****Post by Day 4 a response to the following:
•Summarize the challenges posed by this case, both legally and ethically, explaining who is impacted by the pharmacist’s decision, and how.
•What are the issues that complicate this case?
•How do the rights and interests of patients affect your view of the case?
•What advice would you give on this matter? Provide your rationale. What impact will your decision likely have on this organization?
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