Doctors in Europe can Now Opt Out of Abortions
Doctors in Europe can Now Opt Out of Abortions · March 11, 2011
The European Council resolved that doctors and other health personnel have a right to not perform abortions. While this conscience clause is good, it is also a sign of the times. The massive abortion industry is so politically ingrained in liberal societies, particularly in Europe, that it is essential that health practitioners’ consciences be respected. Europe’s abortion laws have gone beyond permissiveness and had threatened to coerce unwilling physicians and others to perform, or be involved in the procedure.
The original draft bill was introduced by Christine McCafferty, the British Socialist assembly member, and was written in such a way that at least medical practitioners would have been forced to participate in procedures such as abortions to which they had a conscientious objection.
McCafferty “had drafted her resolution partly in response to reports of rising numbers of European doctors refusing to be involved in abortions. She claimed that women in such traditionally Roman Catholic countries as Austria are being forced to travel overseas to end their pregnancies because so many doctors will not perform abortions. “
In addition to other provisions, the “resolution would also have obliged doctors to provide abortions ‘despite his or her conscientious objection… when referral to another healthcare provider is not possible.”
The proposal would have also prohibited healthcare institutions, including religious ones, from preventing abortions from being performed on their premises.
The council, in effect, re-wrote at least parts of the bill to protect the conscientious rights of practitioners to opt out of any practice that would offend their conscience. In the end the author of the bill voted against it.
The European parliament resolution prohibiting anyone from being coerced, held liable, or discriminated” into involvement with abortion “for any reason” provides a measure of freedom of conscience.
Keep in mind that this conscience clause is close to the Vatican’s heart. If the Holy Roman Empire is to be resurrected, European laws will have to align with Vatican policy. Perhaps the liberal abortion laws will also have to be revised.
Read more at www.ktfministry.org
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