Our Publications
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(Aug 2023) What International Human Rights Groups and Agreements, and Global Health Orgs, Say About “Conscientious Objection” in Healthcare
This document is a compilation of everything relevant to “conscientious objection” in reproductive healthcare, as contained in international human rights agreements, and guidelines/reports by global health and human rights groups and governing bodies that have weighed in on the topic. The excerpts are contextualized by the view that “CO” in healthcare is inappropriate, unworkable, and […]
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(2021) ESCRH’s Position Paper on SRHR should not tolerate the denial of care due to personal beliefs
The Editor of the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care initially accepted this article for publication, then recanted. The journal refused to publish the paper because peer reviewers supported the denial of reproductive healthcare by healthcare professionals who oppose such care based on their personal beliefs. Download PDF(4 pages)
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(Aug 2018) Lessons learnt from the past: “Conscientious objection” to abortion in Chile will lead to widespread disobedience of the new law
Authors Montero and Villarroel discuss problems that might arise from “conscientious objection” (CO) to the new law in Chile that legalized abortion in cases of life endangerment of the woman, fatal fetal abnormality, and rape. (“A critical review of conscientious objection and decriminalisation of abortion in Chile”, Jan 6). The law provides the “right” to […]
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The CO debate: ‘Conscientious Objection’ is still dishonourable disobedience
Bpas reproductive review, 14 July 2014 An article by Joyce Arthur and Christian Fiala arguing ‘Why We Need to Ban “Conscientious Objection” in Reproductive Health Care’ provoked much discussion. Here, Arthur and Fiala respond to their critics. So-called ‘conscientious objection’ (CO) to contraception and abortion is a misnomer because it is actually an abuse of […]
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(July 2018) Expert group denounces the refusal to treat under ‘conscientious objection’
For the first time ever, an expert group has arrived at a majority consensus that the practice of so-called “conscientious objection” by health-care professionals should not be allowed. The experts agreed that the practice of refusing to provide legal and essential health care due to a doctor’s personal or religious beliefs is a violation of […]
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(April 2018) Letter to the Editor: The FSRH guideline on conscientious objection disrespects patient rights and endangers their health
BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health (Volume 44, Issue 2) By Christian Fiala and Joyce H. Arthur Published online 12 April 2018 We write to offer feedback on the new Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) guideline on conscientious objection (CO) that was the subject of an editorial in the January 2018 issue of this […]
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(Sept 2017) Letter to the Editor: Refusal to Treat Patients Does Not Work in Any Country—Even If Misleadingly Labelled “Conscientious Objection”
Health and Human Rights Journal By Christian Fiala and Joyce H. Arthur Published online 6 September 2017 We would like to point out some serious problems and contradictions in the study “Regulation of Conscientious Objection to Abortion: An International Comparative Multiple-Case Study,” by Wendy Chavkin, Laurel Swerdlow, and Jocelyn Fifield (Health and Human Rights Journal, […]
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(Sept 2017) “Conscientious Objection” Clause in 1967 Abortion Act is Obsolete
Submission to the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health (APPG) September 1, 2017 From: Christian Fiala and Joyce Arthur Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission. We would like to summarize the problems with allowing so-called conscientious objection” (CO) and why it is harmful and inappropriate in health care, […]
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(July 2017) There Is No Defense for ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Reproductive Health Care
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology By Christian Fiala and Joyce H. ArthurPublished online 23 July 2017 Abstract: A widespread assumption has taken hold in the field of medicine that we must allow health care professionals the right to refuse treatment under the guise of ‘conscientious objection’ (CO), in particular for women […]
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(June 2017) “Conscientious objection” kills women
The following letter was submitted to the Irish Times on June 9, 2017, but not printed. “Conscientious objection” kills women We object to the ill-informed letter (June 5, Italy and Abortion) by Dr Angelo Bottone of the Iona Institute – a conservative Catholic organization. He claims that a pregnant woman in Italy did not die […]