A bill to legalize abortion is before the Tasmanian Legislative Council. It proposes severe penalties on physicians and counsellors who are unwilling to facilitate the procedure by referral. The Tasmanian chapter of the Australian Medical Association is opposed to the provision, and the state regulator, in supporting it, misrepresented the physicians’ ethical obligations. MLC Paul Harriss, though generally supportive of the bill, has described its treatment of conscientious objection as “heavy handed.” Another MLC, Tony Mulder, also appears to have some concerns regarding conscientious objection. [The Examiner]
Category: News
Assisted suicide bill proposed in Scotland lacks protection of conscience provision
Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
An assisted suicide bill has been introduced in the Scots Parliament by M.S.P. Margo MacDonald. The bill proposes that Scotland provide licensed suicide facilitators to (among other things) “provide, before, during and after the act of suicide (or attempted suicide) by the person for whom the facilitator is acting, such practical assistance as the person reasonably requests.” It appears that the bill does not require physicians to participate directly in suicide, but they are expected to record and endorse declarations and requests for suicide in a patient’s medical record to confirm that they meet the criteria in the bill. Physicians who oppose assisted suicide might well object to completing the paperwork required to facilitate it. There is no reference to protection of conscience in the bill, and it is silent as to the means by which suicide is to be achieved.
U.S. Catholic bishops reaffirm opposition to forced payment for birth control
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has unanimously approved a statement reiterating the opposition of the Catholic episcopate to the federal regulation that forces objecting business owners to provide insurance coverage for birth control and surgical sterilization.
Majority of Italian obstetricians refuse to perform abortions
According to a report from the Italian Ministry of Health, the abortion rate has continued to drop in the country, a trend evident since 1982. There has also been an increase in conscientious objection to abortion among health care workers. In Campania, almost 90% of gynaecologists refuse to perform the procedure, and the rate for all of southern Italy is about 80%.
In response, the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), a national labour union, has demanded that only physicians willing to perform abortions should be employed in the public health system. However, the Ministry’s own statistics demonstrate that 95 percent of requested abortions are performed within three weeks,
while 90 percent are not considered medically urgent. Lawyer Giacomo Rocchi, also an Italian Supreme Court magistrate, went to Strasbourg to represent a number of associations in their defence of freedom of conscience.[LifeSite News]
Jewish General Hospital opposes Bill 60 as patently discriminatory
News Release
The Jewish General Hospital (JGH) strongly opposes Bill 60, on the grounds that the plan by the current Government of Quebec to ban overt religious symbols in the clothing of healthcare employees is discriminatory and deeply insulting to public-sector workers.
Contrary to statements in the bill, the JGH believes that neutrality in the delivery of healthcare services is not compromised by religious symbols in the clothing of employees. As long as services are delivered with professional competence, courtesy and respect, no legislation should be allowed to override the freedoms of religion or expression that are guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
“This bill is flawed and contrary to Quebec’s spirit of inclusiveness and tolerance,” says Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, JGH Executive Director. “Since the bill is inherently prejudicial, there is no point in taking advantage of any clause that would grant us temporary, short-term relief. If approved, this offensive legislation would make it extremely difficult for the JGH to function as an exemplary member of Quebec’s public healthcare system.” Dr. Rosenberg’s statement is endorsed by the JGH Board of Directors.
For nearly 80 years, the JGH has prided itself on the fact that its staff—representing a wide diversity of faiths, with many employees wearing conspicuous items of clothing with religious symbols—has provided care of superior quality to Quebecers of all backgrounds. JGH patients continue to come to this hospital in ever-increasing numbers with only one thought in mind: to receive treatment and care of the highest quality. This is what matters most to residents of the hospital’s Côte-des-Neiges area, which is widely regarded as one of the most ethnically, racially, culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse neighbourhoods in Canada. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the JGH receives no complaints about the religious or cultural apparel of its staff.
A brief outlining the position of the Jewish General Hospital will be submitted to the National Assembly at a later date.
No interviews will be given on the matter.
Contact:
Glenn J. Nashen, Director
Astrid Morin, Media Relations
Public Affairs and Communications Jewish General Hospital
Tel.: 514-340-8222 ext. 4612
Email: amorin@jgh.mcgill.ca
Website: jgh.ca