Efforts to support freedom of conscience in health care in Australia have been tarnished by comments made on Facebook posts by a physician identified only as “Dr. K” . The physician became the subject of an investigation and disciplinary hearing after the posts were reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. In addition to asserting that he refused to refer for abortions, the physician made several reprehensible remarks. Among them was an assertion that a woman who dies from injuries incurred in a “back alley abortion” deserved to die “for trying to kill her own child.” A physician’s group supporting freedom of conscience in health care issued a statement that it “vehemently disagrees with and utterly repudiates the idea and sentiment that any woman deserves any kind of harm for any reason whatsoever.” [The Age]
American activist organization assists with push for expanded abortion law in Ireland
The Center for Reproductive Rights, an American activist organization based in New York, is assisting three women who are approaching the United Nations in an attempt to force Ireland to expand its newly-minted abortion law to include abortion for reasons of foetal abnormality likely to result in the death of the child soon after birth. They are also supported by an Irish “Doctors for Choice” group. [Irish Central] [The Guardian]
Abortion law changes eyed as Dr Mark Hobart probed
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Napthine government is not ruling out changes to Victoria’s abortion laws ahead of an investigation into a doctor who refused to give a couple an abortion referral because they wanted a boy.
The state government said it was interested in the outcome of the Medical Board of Victoria’s investigation into Mark Hobart, a pro-life doctor who has been accused of breaking the state’s abortion laws.
It comes as pro-life advocates run a concerted campaign to repeal a section of the Abortion Law Reform Act, which requires doctors who have a conscientious objection to abortion to refer a woman to someone with no such objection. [Full story]
San Diego health workers assured of conscience rights at White Mass
EWTN News
At the San Diego diocese’s second annual White Mass, Bishop Cirilo Flores reminded the health care workers in attendance that their profession is an expression of their Catholic faith.
“Some of you in the health care profession are facing issues of conscience rights. You have the right to live your faith,” he preached at the Oct. 12 Mass. “We must assist the government always, but worshiping God does not just mean at Mass or other celebrations within the four walls of the church.”
“You live your faith in the world. You have the right and the obligation to your conscience, which is paramount, and the government should not try to restrict or force regulations that violate your consciences.”
The Mass was sponsored by both St. Gianna Physicians’ Guild and Culture of Life Family Services, and drew Catholics from across the diocese.
The “White Mass” is named for the traditional white coats and uniforms worn by medical personnel and is a special way to honor health care professionals. In addition to physicians and nurses, the Mass honors hospital personnel, pharmacists, mental health specialists, hospice workers, medical students, pastoral care givers and others. Read more
American Civil Liberties Union petitions against Catholic hospitals
The Washington State branch of the ACLU has prepared a petition to the state Governor to “ensure that religious ideology does not dictate the health care services a patient may choose.” The organization asserts that patients are put “at risk” when hospitals are subject to religious guidelines. [NCR]