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Hohfeld, Berlin and the Social Dimensions of Rights of Conscience in Health Care.

The article critically examines the proposal to use claims of conscience in healthcare as a means to circumvent ethical dilemmas related to harm, futility, and best interests. It argues that while conscience claims may address legal concerns, they do not resolve the underlying moral complexities, wh...

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Published in:American Journal of Bioethics Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 64 - 67
Main Author: May, Thomas
Format: commentary Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
      vid: 26
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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      tig:
        atl: Hohfeld, Berlin and the Social Dimensions of Rights of Conscience in Health Care.
      aug:
        au: May, Thomas
        affil: Washington State University
      sug:
        subj:
          Hospitals Ethical Issues
          Ethics, Organizational
          Sociology
          Conscience
          Health Policy
          Refusal to Treat
          Professional-Patient Relations
          Patient Rights
          Philosophy, Medical
          Health Personnel
          Health Services Accessibility
      ab: The article critically examines the proposal to use claims of conscience in healthcare as a means to circumvent ethical dilemmas related to harm, futility, and best interests. It argues that while conscience claims may address legal concerns, they do not resolve the underlying moral complexities, which require balancing the rights of healthcare providers with those of patients within the "special relationship" of care. The author emphasizes that rights of conscience must be exercised consistently with corresponding duties, avoiding discrimination and respecting patients' reasonable expectations of access to standard care. Ultimately, the article contends that leveraging conscience claims cannot replace thorough ethical analysis of harm, futility, and patient interests in healthcare decision-making.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        commentary
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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