Conscientious Objection and Religious Pluralism in the Implementation of Euthanasia in Spain: Legal Framework, Moral Diversity, and Practical Impact
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Source: Religions
DOI: 10.3390/rel17060740
Author: Marina Morla-González
Institution: Universidad de León
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W7166319574