The Medical Act: Conscientious Practice in a World of Dissention and Disagreement

This book takes a step back, and asks whether the conscientious practice of individual healthcare practitioners is coherent and acceptable on its own. This book argues that the conscientious practice of individual healthcare practitioners is coherent and acceptable on its own, and describes how we move forward in light of the deep moral and professional disagreement that exists. The book explains the mistaken framing and in order to  articulate a better one, the author examines the debate and frames discussions in light of conscientious practice and conscience dissension. With this framing, the author discusses disagreement within healthcare professions, which  leads to the key confusion in much of the debate, which is subsequently clarified, and ultimately argued is not due to religious beliefs. Though many claim, to the contrary, that religious beliefs give rise to the situations that often call for discussions of conscientious objection, this book argues that differing accounts of moral responsibility are at the root of this disagreement. The author takes up moral responsibility in Chapter 4, which leads to the needed – and importantly basic – discussion of what is going on when practical judgements are made in healthcare: the medical act. This book is of great interest to both (advanced undergraduate and) graduate students in philosophy and bioethics, as well as researchers and health care professionals.

 

List of contents

Conscience Dissenters and Conscientious Practice.- Professional Disagreement.- Religion: The Red Herring, leading us away from Moral Responsibility.- Moral Responsibility: Why Conscientious Objection misses the mark.- The Medical Act.

About the author

Bryan Pilkington is Professor of Bioethics in the Department of Medical Sciences at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM), where he is the ethics content lead. Prior to joining the HMSOM, he taught ethics and bioethics at Seton Hall University, Fordham University, Aquinas College, and the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on questions in moral and political philosophy, in particular on the concept of dignity, and in bioethics, where he is especially interested in questions of conscience, moral responsibility, and the practices of the health professions. He lectures on practical ethical challenges in healthcare and teaches courses in normative and applied ethics. He is Editor-in-Chief of The Academy: A Forum for Conversations about Health Care Professionalism and serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, HealthCare Ethics Committee Forum, and Christian Bioethics. He directs the Health Ethics Lab at HMSOM, is the creator of the influential pandemic conversation set: COVID Ethics Series and hosts the Health Ethics Podcast.

Summary

This book takes a step back from the usual debates over conscience in medicine and asks whether the conscientious practice of individual healthcare practitioners is coherent and acceptable on its own. This book argues in the affirmative and describes how we move forward in light of the deep moral and professional disagreement that exists. The book explains why the current framing within the debate is mistaken and offers an alternative framing. In so doing, the author discusses disagreement within healthcare professions, the distinction between conscience protectors and conscience dissenters, and how to properly understand the role of religious and personal philosophical reasons in practicing conscientiously. The book articulates the key confusion in much of the current debate – that disagreement over conscience in medicine is due to religious or personal philosophical beliefs – and rejects it. The book then, positively, argues that differing accounts of moral responsibility are at the root of this disagreement, opening up new avenues for dialogue and potentially fruitful collaborations. The book concludes with a much needed and basic discussion of what is going on when practical judgements are made in healthcare: the medical act. This book is of great interest to both advanced undergraduate and graduate students in philosophy, bioethics, and medicine, as well as researchers, physicians, and health professionals. 

Product details

• Authors: Bryan Pilkington
• Publisher: Springer International Publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 03.10.2025
• EAN: 9783032000477
• ISBN: 978-3-032-00047-7
• No. of pages: 165
• Illustrations: X, 165 p.
• Series: The International Library of Bioethics
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Ethics, Bioethics, Medical Ethics, conscience, conscientious objection