Protection of Conscience Project News
Service, not Servitude
The Globe and Mail
To give Alzheimer’s patient Mary Wilson the death she sought, her physicians had to make a tough decision in a short time – and risked going to prison if they got it wrong. Now they’ve been cleared of wrongdoing in a decision that could have wide-reaching implications for tens of thousands of Canadians. . . [Full text]
Irish Independent
Just half of the country’s 19 maternity units are providing a full abortion service, it emerged yesterday.
It means that some women are more likely to have to travel for the service, despite the new abortion law coming into effect in January.
The HSE said that “work is ongoing with hospital groups to roll out the service in additional maternity hospitals”.
However, a spokeswoman said it has not received any formal complaints about women travelling a long distance or failure to get a referral. . . [Full text]
The Guardian
A judge has given doctors the go-ahead to perform an abortion on a woman with severe learning disabilities who is 12 weeks pregnant.
Mr Justice Williams heard that a GP had recently discovered that the woman, who is in her 20s but has the mental age of a toddler, was pregnant.
He was told that a police investigation was under way.
The judge said the woman may have been raped or been made pregnant by a man who also had learning disabilities and a lack of understanding. Police would carry out DNA tests in a bid to establish the identity of the father, he was told. . .[Full text]
Kalgoolrie Miner
A longstanding Kalgoorlie-Boulder GP says the State Government should introduce “kill clinics” if proposed euthanasia laws receive the parliamentary seal of approval.
Dr Mal Hodsdon believes it would be “immensely unfair” of politicians to put the onus on GPs to sign off on people’s deaths.
Instead, Dr Hodsdon feels the State Government should take full responsibility by establishing what he calls “kill clinics”, providing a one-stop shop for terminally ill patients wanting to end their lives. . . [Full text]
Newsletter
Internal Department of Justice documents show senior officials believe the new regime of decriminalising abortion in Northern Ireland will present “obvious difficulties” for health professionals and the Department of Health.
The news comes after pro-life groups raised concerns that the new legal situation in Northern Ireland will provide little protection for health care professionals who wish to exercise conscientious objection to taking part in abortions. Other difficulties such groups envisage are regarding abortion pills and the readiness of the health service to provide abortions in NI. . . [Full text]