Conscientious objection in health care
- Topic
A professional's right not to perform a procedure that clashes with their convictions, without leaving the patient without care.
What it is
Conscientious objection allows a health professional to refrain from performing a lawful procedure that goes against their deep moral or religious convictions. It is not absolute: it cannot harm the patient or block their access to the service. In Colombia the Constitutional Court has set clear rules, above all for IVE and euthanasia: objection is individual, in writing, belongs only to the professional who directly performs the procedure, and requires referral to another available professional. Institutions cannot object.
Key facts
- World Medical Association International Code of Medical Ethics (2022), paragraph 29: a doctor may object only if the patient is not harmed or discriminated against and their health is not endangered; they must inform promptly and let the patient consult another doctor in time.
- C-355 of 2006: objection rests on a well-founded conviction, not a mere opinion; the objecting doctor refers the woman at once to another professional.
- T-970 of 2014 (euthanasia): the objecting doctor gives their reasons in writing and another professional must be assigned within 24 hours.
- Resolution 813 of 2026, art. 71 (euthanasia): only doctors who may be called on to perform the procedure may object, in writing and with reasons, to the committee; providers and those who give end-of-life care or process the request may not object, and objecting does not exempt anyone from informing.
- Resolution 051 of 2023, art. 16 (IVE): only the professional who directly performs the procedure, in writing, with individual reasons and referral; clinical, administrative or management staff may not refuse or delay care.
In clinical practice
- The objector must declare it in advance to their institution, so that a professional is always available.
- Objecting does not allow judging the patient, giving false information or delaying the referral.
- Objection does not extend to care before or after the procedure (T-388 of 2009).
Legal framework in Colombia
- C-355 of 2006 and T-388 of 2009 (IVE), T-970 of 2014 (euthanasia): Constitutional Court rules, checked at corteconstitucional.gov.co on 2026-11-05.
- Resolution 051 of 2023, art. 16: objection in IVE.
- Resolution 813 of 2026, art. 71: objection in euthanasia (it replaced the rule in art. 16 of Resolution 971 of 2021), checked on 2026-11-05 in Boletín Jurídico No. 04 of 2026 on minsalud.gov.co.
- Members of the Interdisciplinary Euthanasia Committee may not be objectors (Resolution 813 of 2026, art. 61.1).
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Can a health institution declare itself a conscientious objector in Colombia?
No. The Constitutional Court has held that objection is a right of natural persons, not of legal persons.
What requirements did T-388 of 2009 set for conscientious objection in IVE?
It must be individual, in writing with the reasons for the case, only by whoever directly performs the procedure, and with referral to an available, qualified professional.
What happens if the objector is the only professional who can perform the procedure?
They must perform it: objection cannot leave the patient without access to a service they are entitled to.
What does the WMA International Code of Medical Ethics say about conscientious objection?
A doctor may object if they do not harm or discriminate against the patient or endanger their health, and must inform them promptly so they can see another doctor in time.
Connections
Educational content on ethics and health law; not legal advice. Laws and case law change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, read the text in force and ask a lawyer or the medical ethics tribunal.
Sources: WMA International Code of Medical Ethics (World Medical Association, 2022); Sentencia T-388 de 2009 (Corte Constitucional de Colombia, 2009); Sentencia C-355 de 2006 (Corte Constitucional de Colombia, 2006); Sentencia T-970 de 2014 (Corte Constitucional de Colombia, 2014); Boletín Jurídico No. 04 de 2026, section 2.2.6: Resolución 813 de 2026 (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, 2026).
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