AMA Journal of Ethics^®

Dr Isa Ryan joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Ashish Premkumar and Professor Katie Watson: “Why the Post-Roe Era Requires Protecting Conscientious Provision as We Protect Conscientious Refusal in Health Care.”

Extraordinary changes to the legal landscape of abortion care require reevaluating health professionals’ appropriation of conscience.

Dr Jake Greenblum joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Dr Ryan Hubbard: “Should Employment Division v Smith Be Overturned?”

Overturning this case’s precedent might result in clinicians claiming more religious exemptions and increased risk of harm to patients.

When a clinician refuses to do a procedure consistent with standard of care for a patient, legal resources can be helpful.

Mission statements offer limited benefit when patients do not have meaningful choices about where to seek care and can be misused.

Physicians who are uncomfortable with patients’ requests to participate in prayer should pause, listen respectfully, and reflect back their understanding of the request, regardless of whether they pray.

Educators discussing ethically challenging topics with students should try to cultivate open mindedness while illuminating potential negative consequences that their health practice beliefs—such as refusing to provide abortion care—can have for patients, particularly those with limited options.

Physicians should accommodate patients’ religious or spiritual understanding of suffering, even when they disagree, as long as they uphold their commitment to health. Both physicians and chaplains, who promote patients’ spiritual well-being, should respectfully challenge patients when necessary.

Pediatricians should not opt out of caring for children of same-sex couples due to anti-gay beliefs or bias.