Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

In a recent article entitled, Requests "for inappropriate" treatment based on religious beliefs, Orr and Genesen claim that futile treatment should be provided to patients who request it if their request is based on a religious belief. I claim that this implies that we should also accede to requests for harmful or cost-ineffective treatments based on religious beliefs. This special treatment of religious requests is an example of special pleading on the part of theists and morally objectionable discrimination against atheists. It also provides an excellent illustration of how different the practices of religion and ethics are.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/jme.24.6.382

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Med Ethics

Publication Date

12/1998

Volume

24

Pages

382 - 384

Keywords

Death and Euthanasia, Professional Patient Relationship, Religious Approach, Cultural Diversity, Decision Making, Ethics, Medical, Humans, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Physician's Role, Prejudice, Religion and Medicine, Religion and Psychology, Resource Allocation, Social Values