CPHSSWCE0081 - Conscience Laws and Social Work: Refusing to perform professional responsibilities because of moral or personal beliefs

Course Description

Conscience Laws and Social Work
Conscientious objection in health care “is the refusal to perform a legal role or responsibility because of moral or other personal beliefs.” Most states have conscience laws that protect health care providers, including doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and social workers from providing care if it goes against the practitioner's conscience. In addition to the state rules, in January, the Department of Health and Human Services formally published a regulation in coordination with the creation of a new division in the Office of Civil Rights to enforce federal conscience laws. This seminar will provide an overview of conscience laws and their relevance to social workers, with focus on specific cases. In addition, we will discuss how enforcement of these conscience laws impact notoriously-underserved and marginalized populations. and access to care We will also discuss how social workers can better understand, impact, and change social policy in the United States.