Research and scholarship
Research and scholarship
Why give ethical weight to religious beliefs in the NHS ? Identity conferring beliefs, moral obligations and the example of Modern Pagans
This thesis looks at the ways in which religious beliefs affect healthcare in the UK, and how health professionals can respond ethically to issues that arise. In particular I step away from a capacitous-autonomy based approach, using modern Paganism to illustrate that the identity-conferring and obligation-giving nature of religious (and non-religious) worldviews requires a more nuanced ethics.
Utilising earlier work on ‘ethical weighting systems’ and examples from modern Paganism, I critique reliance on familiar definitions of (organised) religion and instead propose a revised method of giving religiously motivated requests an ethical weight. This revised method reflects genuine ethical concerns about autonomy, identity, beneficence and fairness. It specifically includes reference to patient wellbeing and the importance of a sensitive awareness in everyday interactions, not only the more familiar dramatic refusals.
My supervisor is Dr. Sorcha Uí Chonnachtaigh.
