Patients seeking treatments that might be controversial should learn about their medical options and choose physicians accordingly. Some medical professionals do not make their patients aware of all treatment options, including abortion, contraception, or even sedation for dying patients, that they oppose on moral grounds.

A bioethicist at the University of Chicago, Farr Curlin, submitted questionnaires to 2,000 physicians nationwide and received responses from 1,144. The answers provided by the participating physicians showed that 52% were opposed to abortion after failed contraception, 42% to providing contraception to minors without their parents’ consent, and 17% were opposed to "terminal sedation." Further, 8% felt under no obligation to present all the options, 86% believed they should, and 6% were undecided.

The study was prompted by the question of medical professionals who might refuse to provide care that conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs. This would include physicians and nurses who refuse provide an abortion or to prescribe contraception as well as pharmacists who decline to fill prescriptions for birth control or emergency contraception.