Existing Declarations re Conscience

From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

From the Declaration of Geneva adopted by the WMA (2006) and ratified by the AMA (2006)

I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity;
I will maintain, by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life http://ama.com.au/node/2468

From the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 Victoria:

(1) Every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including—

(a) the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his or her choice; and
(b) the freedom to demonstrate his or her religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching, either individually or as part of a community, in public or in private.

(2) A person must not be coerced or restrained in a way that limits his or her freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching.
http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/…/06-043a.pdf

From Medicine with Morality 2006:

We assert our right and obligation to practice medicine according to our conscience.  We will not engage in or facilitate procedures or practices that we believe are inconsistent with the above manifesto.  www.medicinewithmorality.org.au

From the Manhattan Declaration 2009:

Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; http://www.manhattandeclaration.org

From the Canberra Declaration 2010:

We will not comply with any directive that compels us to participate in or facilitate abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that involves the intentional taking of innocent human life. http://www.canberradeclaration.org.au/

Hippocratic Oath.  Original, written 400 BC Translated by Francis Adams

I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

Comments are closed.