|
Breaking News
 |
NOTE:
The Project posts verbatim news reports only with the permission of the copyright holder.
Material derived from news reports is added to other sections of the site only
after it has been verified by the Administrator.
However, breaking news is frequently important to conscientious objectors,
researchers and others working for legislated protection of conscience. The
following reports are provided as a service to these people. Not all of them have
been verified; they should not be relied upon without independent confirmation.
|
15 July, 2008
US administration circulates draft protection of conscience regulation
A draft regulation being circulated in the US Department of Health and Human
Services that has been obtained by the New York Times is reported to
provide extensive protection to health care workers who might face
discrimination because of religious or moral objections to abortion and
contraception. The most controversial section of the regulation appears to
be a definition of "abortion" that includes “any of the various procedures —
including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the
performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the
termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and
natural birth, whether before or after implantation.” Spokesmen for the
Department refused to comment on the draft. The Christian Medical
Association and Concerned Women for America have issued news releases supporting
the proposal. [New
York Times] [The
Bulletin] [CMA
News Release] [CWA
News Release] [HHS Secretary BLOG on
Freedom of Conscience]11 July, 2008
BMA narrowly rejects attack on freedom of conscience
50.6 % of delegates at the Annual General Meeting of the British Medical
Association voted against a
resolution
that included a provision that objecting physicians should be forced to refer
for abortions. Much of the opposition to the motion centred on its
requirement that objecting physicians be required to disclose their position on
abortion in pamphlets and other notices. A number of opponents were
concerned that this would indirectly lead to the identification of physicians
who do provide abortions, while others believed that there were better ways to
advise patients of their views. Dr Evan Harris, a Liberal Democratic MP as
well as a BMA members, clearly indicated his desire to restrict freedom of
conscience for health care workers. He was prepared to accept the existing
legal recognition of freedom of conscience in the case of abortion and
artificial reproduction, but argued "we should go no further." [Scotsman]
Just days before the meeting, the proposal was attacked by Cormac Cardinal
Murphy-O'Connor and
Baroness Cumberlege, a Catholic peer and former Junior Health Minister [Catholic
Herald].
9 July, 2008
Death approved for Italian woman
The Milan Court of Appeal has approved an earlier judgement that food and
fluids can be withdrawn from a 36 year old Italian woman, Eluana Englaro, who
has been in an irreversible coma for 16 years. The woman's father has been
seeking such a judgement since 1999. Since the woman is not dying,
withdrawal of food and fluids will cause her death. Catholic authorities
and others have denounced the decision as formal approval of euthanasia. [Times
Online] In an increasing number of jurisdictions, assisted nutrition and
hydration are legally considered to be forms of medical treatment that can be
refused by a patient or (more frequently) by others acting on their behalf.
This can lead to conflicts of conscience among health care workers who do not
approve of causing death by dehyrdation and starvation, as well as conflicts
between families and health care authorities (See
Elderly woman in UK avoids death; Doctors
refuse shifts at hospital to avoid care for elderly patient).
7 July, 2008
Objecting physician cleared of misconduct allegation
Britain's General Medical Council has cleared a West Cornwall general
practitioner following an investigation of a complaint of misconduct. Dr.
Tammie Downes, a Christian who refuses to refer patients for abortion or sign
approvals for the procedure, was the subject of complaint after she publicly
stated that she discussed all options with patients seeking abortion and
encouraged them to consider the alternatives [See
Objecting physician investigated for alleged breach of ethics]. [The
Telegraph]
4 July, 2008
Freedom of conscience threatened by motion for British Medical Association
A motion
to be considered at the Annual General Meeting of the British Medical
Association purports to support conscientious objection that is now recognized
in British statutes
concerning abortion and artificial reproduction, but only on condition that
physicians who object to abortion for reasons of conscience must facilitate the
procedure by referring patients to more willing colleagues.
Representatives from the Catholic Medical Association and the Islamic Medical
Association in Britain have expressed strong opposition to the motion, which has
been brought forward by the Oxford Division, of which abortion supporter Dr Evan
Harris is a member. He is a Liberal Democratic Member of Parliament who
favours abortion [Catholic
Herald]. He and opposes freedom of conscience for health care workers
[See
Objecting physician investigated for alleged breach of ethics].
2 July, 2008
Elderly woman in UK avoids death
An 88 year old woman is at home after her daughter prevented doctors at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital
from removing nutrition and hydration, which would have caused her death.
The woman had been treated for two months
for dementia and C.difficile when doctors informed her daughter that they were
going to withdraw food and fluids. The daughter said that she had to
"fight very, very hard" to stop them. She obtained a second opinion
favourable to her mother, and the hospital agreed to continue treatment.
The situation has become increasingly common and had resulted in conflicts
between medial personnel and families (see Doctors
refuse shifts at hospital to avoid care for elderly patient), but it also
illustrates the potential for conflicst of conscience among health care workers. |
