title: Religion, secular medicine and utilitarianism: a response to Biggar.
abstract: Nigel Biggar has argued that religion ought to be given a seat at the negotiating table of medical ethics. I respond in broadly utilitarian terms, arguing that the flawed empirical basis, lack of rationality and non-universality inherent in religion disqualify it from ethical discourse. I conclude that while it would be unacceptable to attempt to debar religious individuals from the negotiating table, an exclusively secular approach is required for ethical decision making in medicine.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002835:Christianity; D005610:Freedom; D006806:Human Rights; D006808:Humanism; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011057:Politics; D012945:Social Values
keywords: Abortion; Infanticide; Moral and Religious Aspects; Philosophical Ethics; Religious Ethics