Sprzeciw sumienia w praktyce pielęgniarki i położnej. Analiza rozwiązań polskich i wybranych rozwiązań europejskich
Conscientious Objection in the Practice of Nurses and Midwives. Analysis of Polish and Selected European Solutions

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to present national and European discussions on the conscience clause in the practice of nurse and midwife, together with the analysis of the problems which are associated with application of this regulation to the clinical realities. The conscientious clause in medical practice can be defined as a kind of special ethical and legal regulation which gives nurses/midwives right to object to actively perform certain medical procedures which are against their personal system of values. The main issue underlined in the discussion regarding practising conscientious objection in the clinical setting is the collision of two human rights: the right to conscientious objection of medical personnel and the right of patients to specific medical procedures which are legal in their country. However, it is emphasized that eventhough the right to the conscientious objection in nurses/midwives or phisicians practice is widely accepted it is not absolute and this regulation can not be used in cases of danger to life or serious damage to the health of the patient. Deontological and legal regulations in Europe indicate similar conditions which have to be fulfilled if nurse wants to use this right. Neverthereless, application this regulation to the clinical reality is not free of problems.

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