Conscience Rules Definitions

• Conscience: An inner state or faculty linked to an awareness of moral limits and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
• Conscience Objection: The desire or intent to refuse legal medical goods or services requested by a patient, or expected by the ordinary standard of care due to deeply held religious or moral beliefs or perceived conflict with one’s professional integrity.
• Conscientious Refusal: The actual refusal to provide legal medical goods or services requested by a patient, or expected by the ordinary standard of care due to deeply held religious or moral beliefs or perceived conflict with one’s professional integrity.
• Conscience Laws: Various pieces of federal legislation, along with federal agency rules that protect health care providers who refuse on religious or moral grounds to perform or assist in the performance of certain health care services due to deeply held religious or moral beliefs.

Source: Galston, W. & Rogers M. (2012). Health Care Provider’s Consciences and Patients’ Needs: The Quest for Balance. The Brookings Institution.

Further reading: Refer to Federal Register – Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes