South African legislation allows doctors to opt out of providing certain services (such as abortions) if their 'conscience' does not permit them to do so. In Michigan there's currently a proposal in front of their legislature using the same conscience nonsense to push thru legislation designed to allow doctors not to treat whole groups of patients (eg gays, blacks, muslims etc). All this based on the nebulous 'conscience' thing... Check it out
Addendum: I have published in January 2006 in the Journal of medical ethics an Editorial arguing that non-professional issues (incl religious symbols) should be kept out of doctors' rooms. You can read this Editorial here.
