LAUSR

Key Points Question How do Catholic obstetrician-gynecologists integrate their religious beliefs with family planning services? Findings In this qualitative study, 34 Catholic obstetrician-gynecologists were interviewed and demonstrated that their morality is developed and operationalized in a manner consistent with the Social-Cognitive Theory of Moral Thought and Action. Catholic values and professional obligations were differentially integrated and contributed to various practice patterns, ranging from provision of natural family planning only to abortion, and certain medical ethical principles were emphasized over others across these practice patterns. Meaning These findings suggest that physician morality among Catholic obstetrician-gynecologists is not uniform and involves varying reconciliations with respect to religious and professional expectations.