Friday Fax
Volume 9, Number 1 | December 23, 2005
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Dear Colleague, In the first of a three-part series, we report today on a European Union attack on freedom of concience aimed specifically at doctors who may be forced to perform abortions. This ghastly document is aimed specifically at doctors in Slovakia but will be applicable to doctors throughout the European Union and perhaps to doctors in parts of the world where the EU has a strong influence. Some UN delegations think the UN abortion wars are over and that we have won. Perhaps they should think again. Spread the word. Yours sincerely, Austin Ruse President |
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EU Committee Says Doctors
Should be Forced to Perform Abortion A European Union advisory panel has issued a statement that threatens the rights of medical professionals to refuse to participate in abortions and other procedures that may violate their religious beliefs. The opinion states that denying access to abortion may be a violation of international human rights. The EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights released a 40-page opinion on the right to conscientious objection in light of a proposed treaty between the Vatican and Slovakia. The treaty would guarantee that Catholic hospitals and medical professionals would not be legally obligated to "perform artificial abortions, artificial or assisted fertilizations, experiments with or handling of human organs, human embryos or human sex cells, euthanasia, cloning, sterilizations, [and] acts connected with contraception . . ." The Network was charged with determining whether or not such an agreement would be a violation of EU law. The report recognizes that its findings are recommendations and "not binding." While the Network acknowledged the right to conscientious objection, it warned that such a right was not "unlimited." "Indeed, the right to religious conscientious objection may conflict with other rights, also recognized under international law. In such circumstances, an adequate balance must be struck between these conflicting requirements, which may not lead to one right being sacrificed to another." The opinion declares that the "right to religious conscientious objection" "should be regulated in order to ensure that, in circumstances where abortion is legal, no woman shall be deprived from having effective access to the medical service of abortion. In the view of the Network, this implies that the State concerned must ensure, first, that an effective remedy should be open to challenge any refusal to provide abortion; second, that an obligation will be imposed on the health care practitioner exercising his or her right to religious conscientious objection to refer the woman seeking abortion to another qualified health care practitioner who will agree to perform the abortion; third, that another qualified health care practitioner will be indeed available, including in rural areas or in areas which are geographically remote from the centre." In e-mail correspondence obtained by the Friday Fax between international abortion rights leaders, the decision was praised. Irene Donadio of International Planned Parenthood Federation wrote, "The Conclusions reflect all the arguments presented by the SRHR [sexual and reproductive health and rights] community!!!!" |
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Family & Human Rights Institute). Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required. Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 427 New York, New York 10017 Phone: (212) 754-5948 Fax: (212) 754-9291 E-mail: c-fam@c-fam.org Website: www.c-fam.org |