Mr. Ford’s abortion proposals contain a conscience clause for employees relating to participation in the procedure.
This would mean that if any health staff had a conscientious or religious objection to abortion, they would not have to directly participate.
Among consultation’s results was the emergence of a “clear body of opinion in favour of a clause to allow for conscientious objection”.
However, the Department of Justice said that it expects this would not apply “where there is a risk to the life of the woman or of injury to her physical or mental health which is likely to be either long term or permanent”. . . [Full text]