Final answer:
Healthcare providers may face ethical dilemmas when patients request procedures like abortion that conflict with their moral principles. The concept of bodily autonomy argues for the permissibility of abortions in certain circumstances. Providers must balance their personal beliefs with their professional duty to ensure patient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient desires a procedure that is against a healthcare provider's moral principles, the provider faces an ethical dilemma. This is often seen in cases such as abortion, where personal beliefs may conflict with a patient's choice. In such instances, healthcare providers must balance their professional obligations with their personal values.
One widely discussed philosophical argument in favor of bodily autonomy is Judith Jarvis Thomson's violinist analogy. This thought experiment questions the extent of one's obligation to sacrifice their own bodily autonomy to save another's life. In the medical field, similar ethical quandaries arise when professionals are faced with procedures like Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), which can prevent genetic diseases but may involve the destruction of embryos.
The principle of bodily autonomy supports the idea that while every individual has a right to life, this right does not mandate others, including pregnant individuals, to maintain another life against their will. Therefore, it is asserted that abortions are permissible, at least in some situations. When personal morals clash with professional responsibilities, health-care providers may refer the patient to another provider while ensuring the patient's access to care is not obstructed.