Health care professionals may have moral objections to particular treatments and refuse to provide them. However, such conscientious objections may limit patients’ access to treatment and information, which creates an ethical dilemma. In a new policy statement, “Physician Refusal to Provide Information or Treatment on the Basis of Claims of Conscience,” published in the December issue of Pediatrics (appearing online Nov. 30), the American Academy of Pediatrics sets out recommendations to help pediatricians balance their moral integrity with their obligations to patients. According to the policy, physicians’ consciences should be respected. Physicians have a duty to tell patients about standard treatments that they refuse to provide but that are normally provided by other health care professionals, and in some circumstances they have a duty to refer patients to other health care providers for these treatments. In emergencies, when referral would significantly increase the chance of death or serious injury, physicians have a moral obligation to treat the patient.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.​