Personal beliefs and medical practice

This guidance explores how you can practise in line your own personal beliefs without breaching the rights  of your patients. It explains what to do if you don't want to carry out a particular procedure because of your own beliefs. It also explains what to do if a patient is requesting or refusing a procedure because of their beliefs. 

The guidance has specific advice on dealing with requests from parents for procedures, for example, male circumcision.  It includes how to assess the best interests of the child and who you need consent from.

This guidance came into effect 22 April 2013.  The legal annex was updated on 7 April 2020.