Conscientious Objection Resources

The right to conscientious objection based on religious, ethical, or cultural beliefs is quite well accepted in the health professions, though it is usually couched in terms of the right not to participate in abortions or sterilizations. However, forced non-therapeutic genital cutting, including male infant circumcision, falls under the same set of principles. Although training programs may vary in their policies, students should theoretically have a similar right to conscientious objection.

Nurses for the Rights of the Child has developed a brochure resource for nurses, nursing students, employers, and educators to guide discussions about conscientious objection.

Click here to download the brochure

Click here to download the brochure

Following are some other resources discussing the right to conscientious objection in health care, some of which specifically relate to circumcision:

  • In January 2018, the Federal Government formed a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to strengthen enforcement of federal laws protecting health professionals’ rights of refusal in health care settings funded under the Department of Health and Human Services. Health professionals who believe that they have been discriminated against by a covered entity on the basis of conscience or religious freedom, or coerced to violate their conscience or religious beliefs, may file a complaint with the OCR.
  • JCAHO (the Joint Commission that accredits hospitals) requires that hospitals have some kind of Human Resources policy in place to make reasonable accommodations to staff ethical objections, as long as patient care or treatment are not compromised.

The statement says nurses should have the right to conscientious objection to, for example, abortion, sterilization, gender reassignment surgery, or “any other procedure” (which would cover circumcision). It recommends that institutions have a written policy protecting these rights and making reasonable accommodations for nurses with such objections. It also says a nurse’s refusal to participate based on religious or moral grounds should not jeopardize the nurse’s employment or subject him or her to harassment.

“Ethical (or moral) distress: Arises when nurses are unable to act according to their moral judgement. They feel they know the right thing to do, but system structures or personal limitations make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action. Moral distress can lead to negative consequences such as feelings if anger, frustration and guilt, yet it can also be a catalyst for self-reflection, growth and advocacy.”  (p. 6)

“Ethical (or moral) courage: When nurses stand firm on a point of moral principle or a particular decision about something in the face of overwhelming fear or threat to themselves.”  (p. 6)

“Ideally, the nurse would be able to anticipate practices and procedures that would create a conflict with their conscience (beliefs and values) in advance. In this case, the nurse discusses with supervisors, employers, and persons receiving care (if the nurse is self-employed) what types of care the nurse finds contrary to their own beliefs and values (e.g., caring for individuals having an abortion, male circumcision, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, medical assistance in dying) and requests that his or her objections be accommodated, unless it is an emergency situation.” (p. 36)

“Employers and co-workers are responsible for ensuring that nurses and other co-workers who declare a conflict of conscience receive fair treatment and do not experience discrimination.” (p. 37)

  • Family physician Michelle Storms, MD speaks about her experience as a conscientious objector to circumcision, including discussing harassment by other health professionals. An inspiring and empowering video for all health professionals.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWpZLhz8Isc
  • Dr. James Pate, an OB/GYN and member of Intact America’s Board of Health Professionals, responds on his blog here and here to the concerns of medical students about conscientious objection to circumcision.Updated March 2018

Updated April 2018