Wendy WilliamsA PRO-LIFE doctor in Antequera has been allowed to refuse referring patients for abortions.
A court in Malaga has accepted the doctor’s appeal that was lodged after a landmark ruling in April saw the Northern Health District refuse him the status of a ‘conscientious objector’.
The unnamed family doctor had applied under the country’s Abortion Act – which states medical physicians can refuse to perform abortions ‘for reasons of conscience’ – to be free from referring women for abortions.?
However, the judge rejected his request on the grounds that his ‘duty to provide adequate health care prevailed over that of conscience.’
The ruling also contradicts the decision of another Malaga court which refused a similar request on the basis the doctor did not have to take part in the procedure, but merely inform patients and refer them to a clinic.
Since being introduced, Spain’s new law, which allows an abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, has proved highly controversial and has been contested by conservatives, pro-life advocates and the church.
I would have thought that Judges would give serious consideration to the appallingly low birthrate in Spain, which threatens the prospects of all people of working age and their pensions. Few youngish workers equals poor pensions in the future and an impoverished nation.
That is apart from the thorny issue of a Doctors prime duty to preserve life, not destroy it.
The ‘choice’ issue for women comes at the conception stage, a civilised society should not resort to the killing of unborn children because the woman makes the wrong choice.
Planet Earth only has one problem you Anthony – to many bipeds reproducing.
Imagine this planet right now with it’s present level of technical ability but with a population @ 25% of what it is now.
God does not provide – it’s this planet that has to produce the food.
My comments were set within a context (among several) of the possibility that most European countries may be unable to support a growing elderly population within a few years. If a woman does not want to produce a human being, she should not kill the unborn child simply because she has little control over the possibility of conception in her relationship/s. Rather, bear the child and allow adoption by others more able to accept the responsibility of nurturing a baby to healthy, independent adulthood.
Over-population has little or nothing to do with any country in Europe and your comments Stuart seem more appropriate elsewhere.
The topic of ‘choice’ is often voiced with regard to womens rights and pregnancy by various campaigners. But I have yet to see these same people campaign on behalf of the rights of an unborn child, unable to speak or voice an opinion on whether they want to die.