Conscientious Objection and Religious Pluralism in the Implementation of Euthanasia in Spain

Legal Framework, Moral Diversity, and Practical Impact

Bibliographic Data

ID21981433
AuthorsMarina Morla-González (Universidad de León, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume17
Issue6
Pages740
Publication date2026-06-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel17060740
OpenAlexW7166319574
LanguageEN
References cited26

The legalization of euthanasia in Spain through Organic Law 3/2021 has intensified debates concerning the relationship between patients’ autonomy, the protection of life, and the freedom of conscience of healthcare professionals. In a context marked by increasing moral and religious pluralism, conscientious objection has emerged as a particularly sensitive issue in the practical implementation of assisted dying. This article adopts a legal and socio-religious approach to analyze the role of conscientious objection in the Spanish euthanasia framework. First, it examines the constitutional foundations of freedom of conscience and its specific regulation under Organic Law 3/2021, with particular attention to the guarantees and limits established for healthcare professionals. Second, it analyses the official positions of the main religious traditions present in Spain regarding euthanasia, assisted suicide, and end-of-life care, identifying both points of convergence and doctrinal diversity. Finally, the article assesses the practical impact of religious and moral convictions on the exercise of conscientious objection, drawing on the limited empirical evidence currently available. The analysis shows that, although most religious traditions oppose active euthanasia while accepting palliative care and the withdrawal of futile treatments, analysis of available empirical evidence suggests that objections are more often grounded in secular ethical or professional reasons than explicitly religious ones. The article concludes that conscientious objection should be understood as a structural feature of pluralist healthcare systems, requiring legal and organizational arrangements capable of safeguarding both freedom of conscience and effective access to legally recognized rights

Conscience · Conscientious objector · Context (archaeology) · Freedom of Religion · Health care · Pluralism (philosophy) · Religious freedom · Safeguarding · Legal and cultural studies analysis · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Religious Freedom and Discrimination

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access