The Dissenter

#1197 Mark Wicclair: Conscientious Objection in Medicine

Jan 2, 2026
Guest
Mark Wicclair
Mark Wicclair, a Professor of Philosophy Emeritus specializing in bioethics, delves into the contentious topic of conscientious objection in medicine. He clarifies how moral beliefs can lead to refusals of care and contrasts them with non-moral objections. The discussion touches on the balance between physician conscience and patient rights, and the ethical implications of conscientious provision in cases like abortion. Wicclair challenges critiques of conscientious objection, advocating for a nuanced understanding of moral integrity and the importance of respecting diverse beliefs in healthcare.
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INSIGHT

Core Moral Beliefs And Integrity

  • Moral integrity concerns core moral beliefs tied to identity and demands acting in accordance with those beliefs.
  • Protecting integrity explains the strongest claims for accommodation of conscientious objectors.
INSIGHT

Main Ethical Controversies

  • Key controversies include whether conscientious objection should be tolerated and what duties (informing, referral, justification, advance notice) objectors must meet.
  • Ethical approaches require justification for the balance between physician conscience and patient access.
INSIGHT

Patient-First Is Not Absolute

  • The incompatibilist claim that conscience conflicts with professional obligations hinges on an underspecified 'patient-first' principle.
  • Wicclair argues the principle cannot plausibly require physicians to wholly disregard their own moral agency.
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