Victory on Conscientious Objection for Health Professionals at Council of Europe

An attack against the right of conscientious objection in medical care has been totally defeated at the Council of Europe.The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted on a report, the original text of which recommended a crack-down on medical personnel who refuse to be complicit in the provision of abortion and other unethical procedures. Ronan Mullen, the Irish senator, and Luca Volonte of Italy, led the assembly in passing amendments which totally reversed the report from a pro-abortion attack on conscientious objection, to a defense of conscientious objection. Christine McCafferty, the report’s British author and her fellow pro-abortion assembly members were therefore forced to vote against their own report.
The Assembly adopted Resolution 1763 (2010) on “the right to conscientious objection in lawful medical care” which states that no person, hospital or institution shall be coerced, held liable or discriminated against in any manner because of a refusal to perform, accommodate, assist or submit to an abortion, the performance of a human miscarriage, or euthanasia or any act which could cause the death of a human foetus or embryo, for any reason.
The Parliamentary Assembly emphasized the need to affirm the right of conscientious objection. The Assembly invites Council of Europe member states to develop comprehensive and clear regulations which guarantee the right to conscientious objection in relation to participation in the procedure in question; in view of member states’ obligation to ensure respect for the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion of healthcare providers.
Doctors For Life International is an association of more than 1800 specialists and medical doctors. DFL endeavors to promote public health by upholding sound science in the medical profession, as well as the constitutional right to freedom of conscience for all healthcare professionals.

Enquiries: Dr Eva Seobi
Date: 20 October 2010
Cell: 082 575 6278