Inspections by the Care and Quality Commission of 250 abortion facilities in England found that, in as many as 50 of them, consent forms for abortion were being pre-signed by physicians. In addition, the Daily Mail disclosed the practice of sex selective abortions by some physicians, who now face discipline from the General Medical Council. Report of these incidents have triggered complaints from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and abortion activists. They are concerned that few physicians are willing to train to do abortions and that it is difficult to find any who will perform the procedure. The groups fear that public protest and controversy will “put doctors and nurses off becoming involved” in the service. They state that most National Health Service physicians will not do abortions beyond 12 to 14 weeks; only a small number of physicians in the country will do later abortions. “It’s probably not a dozen people in the country who are doing the ones around 20 weeks and beyond.” 17 gynaecologists, academics and consultants expressed similar concerns in a letter in The Guardian, expressing distress at the prospect that physicians might be disciplined or prosecuted for unethical or illegal practices.[The Guardian]
New Hampshire House kills protection of conscience bill
The New Hampshire House of Representatives has tabled (suspended the legislative process) HB 1653, which was proposed to ensure freedom of conscience for medical professionals in the state.
Missouri House and Senate pass protection of conscience bills
House Bill 1541 has been passed by the Missouri House of Representatives. The bill defines ‘conscience’ as “the religious, moral, or ethical principles held by a medical professional or a health care institution.” The bill ensures that individuals and institutions cannot be compelled to participate in a number of defined procedures or research activities to which they object for reasons of conscience, and protects them against discrimination. Meanwhile, the Missouri Senate passed SB749, a bill drafted to prevent employers from being forced to provide insurance coverage for abortion, contraception or sterilization.[Missourian]
Protection of conscience bill passes in Kansas
The Kansas House of Represtentatives has passed a Substitute for SB62. The bill provides protection for conscientious objection by individuals or institutions to participation in or referral for procedures, drugs or devices that may terminate pregnancies. [NECN.com]
Quebec euthanasia proposal challenged as unbalanced
Margaret Somerville, founding Director of McGill University’s Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, criticizes the report of Quebec’s Select Committee on Dying with Dignity on the ground that it is unbalanced “and reads rather like a pro-euthanasia manifesto.” She notes that two thirds of the submissions received by the Committee opposed euthansia. [The Gazette]