The American College of Physicians has acknowledged that physicians who object to “abortion, sterilization, contraception or other reproductive services . . . is not obligated to recommend, perform or prescribe them.” The statement is in the most recent edition of the College’s Ethics Manual. However, an objecting physician is obliged to advise a patient of “care options and alternatives, so that the patient’s rights are not constrained.” Only if the physician is unwilling to provide this information is a transfer of care required. [Secondhand Smoke]
This need not be interpreted to mean that the physician is obliged to help a patient find a service provider.