Conscientious Objection and Legal Abortion: Medical Students’ Attitudes

ABSTRACT Introduction In Brazil abortion is permitted when the woman’s life is at risk, the pregnancy resulted from rape or in the case of fetal anencephaly. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of medical students towards conscientious objection to abortion. Methods Medical students from Piauí were asked to answer an anonymous electronic questionnaire with questions about sociodemographic characteristics, conscientious objection to abortion and ethical obligations in the case of objection. Results The answer rate was 66.7% (n = 1,174). Whereas 13.2% of the students would have presented conscientious objection in the case of any threat to the woman’s life, 31.6% would have objected in the case of fetal anencephaly, and 50.8% in the case of rape. Among the students who would object to abortion in the case of rape, 54% would not refer the woman to another professional and 72.5% would not explain the available treatment options. Religion was the only characteristic associated with refusal. Conclusions Conscientious objection to abortion in the case of rape was more frequent than other circumstances foreseen by Brazilian legislation. Students with religious affiliations were more associated with refusal.