Conscientious objection or fear of social stigma and unawareness of ethical obligations

Abstract

Conscientious objection is a legitimate right of physicians to reject the practice of actions that violate their ethical or moral principles. The application of that principle is being used in many countries as a justification to deny safe abortion care to women who have the legal right to have access to safe termination of pregnancy. The problem is that, often, this concept is abused by physicians who camouflage under the guise of conscientious objection their fear of experiencing discrimination and social stigma if they perform legal abortions. These colleagues seem to ignore the ethical principle that the primary conscientious duty of OB/GYNs is-at all times-to treat, or provide benefit and prevent harm to, the patients for whose care they are responsible. Any conscientious objection to treating a patient is secondary to this primary duty. One of the jobs of the FIGO Working Group for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion is to change this paradigm and make our colleagues proud of providing legal abortion services that protect women's life and health, and concerned about disrespecting the human rights of women and professional ethical principles.

Abortion and sex-related conditions in substance-dependent Brazilian patients

“…Abortion is influenced by several factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, educational level, income, religion, moral values and beliefs and also by alcohol and drug use 44 . However, very few studies have investigated the relationship between abortion and socioeconomic status in a substance user Brazilian sample 4,20 .…”

“…This important taboo subject still generates controversies and disputes in many countries around the world 4,5 , including Brazil and other Latin American countries 6 .…”

The responsibility of gynecologists and obstetricians in providing safe abortion services within the limits of the law

“…As stated by the FIGO Committee for the Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women's Health (A14), “The primary conscientious duty of obstetrician–gynecologists is at all times to treat, or provide benefit and prevent harm, to the patients for whose care they are responsible. Any conscientious objection to treating a patient is secondary to this primary duty.” By claiming conscientious objection, when in reality they do not provide safe abortion services within the law for fear of the stigma attached to the word abortion …”

Conscientious objection to abortion and reproductive healthcare

“…Faú ndes et al [22] explore the reasons behind conscientious objection, the consequences for women, and propose next steps for the FIGO Working Group for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion. These include dispelling the myth that improved access increases the abortion rate, and promoting and normalizing the ethical principles that the primary duty of a physician is to provide benefit and prevent harm in an effort to break the stigma around abortion.…”