title: Conscientious objection to abortion and reproductive healthcare: a review of recent literature and implications for adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conscientious objection to reproductive healthcare (refusal to perform abortion, assisted reproductive technologies, prenatal diagnosis, contraception, including emergency contraception and sterilization, etc.) has become a widespread global phenomenon and constitutes a barrier to these services for many women. Adolescents are a particularly vulnerable group because some providers object to specific aspects of their reproductive healthcare because of their status as minors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent peer-reviewed publications concerning conscientious objection address provider attitudes to abortion and emergency contraception, ethical arguments against conscientious objection, calls for clarification of the current laws regarding conscientious objection, legal case commentaries, and descriptions of the country-specific impact of policies in Russia and Italy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conscientious objection is understudied, complicated, and appears to constitute a barrier to care, especially for certain subgroups, although the degree to which conscientious objection has compromised sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescents is unknown. Physicians are well positioned to support individual conscience while honoring their obligations to patients and to medical evidence.
authors.affiliation: aPhysicians for Reproductive Health bMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chavkin
mesh_terms: D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003242:Conscience; D003267:Contraception / Q000941:ethics; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology