Conscientious objection is a legally protected right of medical professionals to recuse themselves from patient care activities that conflict with their personal values. Anesthesiology is different from most specialties with respect to conscientious objection in that the focus is to facilitate safe, efficient, and successful performance of procedures by others, rather than to perform the treatment in question. This could give rise to a unique, somewhat indirect ethical tension between the application of conscientious objection and potential infringement upon patient autonomy and well-being. While some situations have clear grounds and precedent for conscientious objection (e.g., abortion, or futile procedures), newer procedures, such as gender-affirming surgery and xenotransplantation, may trigger conscientious objection for complex reasons. This review discusses ethical, legal, and practical aspects of conscientious objection; challenges to anesthesia groups, departments, and healthcare organizations when conscientious objection is invoked by anesthesiologists; and strategies to help mitigate the ethical dilemmas.

中文翻译：

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良心拒服兵役和麻醉师：道德困境。


良心拒服兵役是医疗专业人员受法律保护的权利，可以回避与其个人价值观相冲突的患者护理活动。麻醉学在良心拒服役方面与大多数专业不同，因为麻醉学的重点是促进他人安全、高效和成功地执行程序，而不是进行有问题的治疗。这可能会在良心拒服兵役与对患者自主权和福祉的潜在侵犯之间产生一种独特的、某种间接的道德紧张关系。虽然有些情况有明确的理由和先例支持良心拒绝（例如，堕胎或徒劳的手术），但较新的手术，例如性别确认手术和异种移植，可能会因复杂的原因触发良心拒绝。本综述讨论了良心拒服兵役的道德、法律和实践方面;当麻醉师出于良心反对时，对麻醉团体、部门和医疗保健组织的挑战;以及帮助缓解道德困境的策略。