Panel Topic: Medicine, Health, and Religion

Tensions between health institutions & health professionals with a religious ethos & State policies on medical services concerning the protection of human life

Authors: Javier Martínez-Torrón, Santiago Cañamares Arribas, María José Valero Estarellas

This panel is co-sponsored by the research project HUDISOC funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, the research group REDESOC at Complutense University of Madrid, and ICLARS: International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies. It is part of a series of panels at EUARE 2023 coordinated by ICLARS.Recent State policies on health services have changed, to a large extent, the usual coordinates that define medical professions, especially in the case of policies that have an impact on the protection of human life, either in its beginning (abortion) or in its end (euthanasia). These policies often conflict with the religious ethos of institutions or individuals involved in health services. Sometimes, laws on health services recognize the right to conscientious objection in the area of abortion and euthanasia but typically in a limited fashion, by circumscribing this right to some health professionals, denying it to institutions, and imposing some duties on objectors (such as the duty of referral to other health professional). This panel will explore possible ways of overcoming these conflicts in a way that minimizes the impact on both sides that have claims based on conflicting legal interests — something that is particularly important, since promoters of the new health services argue on the basis of sexual and reproductive rights, patient autonomy, and respect for private and family life.Chair: Javier Martinez-Torron (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) Speakers:Santiago Cañamares Arribas (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)Maria Jose Valero-Estarellas (Universidad Villanueva)
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