s Latin American countries seek to guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights,opponents of women's rights and reproductive choice have become more strident in their opposition,and are increasingly claiming conscientious objection to providing these services. Conscientiousobjection must be seen in the context of the rights and interests at stake, including women's healthneeds and right to self-determination. An analysis of law and policy on conscientious objection in Peru,Mexico and Chile shows that it is being used to erode women's rights, especially where it is construedto have no limits, as in Peru. Conscientious objection must be distinguished from politically-motivatedattempts to undermine the law; otherwise, the still fragile re-democratisation processes underway inLatin America may be placed at risk. True conscientious objection requires that a balance be struckbetween the rights of the objector and the health rights of patients, in this case women. Health careproviders are entitled to their beliefs and to have those beliefs accommodated, but it is neither viablenor ethically acceptable for conscientious objectors to exercise this right without regard for the right tohealth care of others, or for policy and services to be rendered ineffectual because of individualobjectors.