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Protection of Conscience Laws

Italy

Article 9, Law 194 (22 May 1978) (Abortion)

". . . conscientious objection shall exempt health personnel and allied health personnel from carrying out procedures and activities specifically and necessarily designed to bring about the termination of a pregnancy, but shall not exempt them from providing care prior to and following the termination. . . The law lays down that conscientious objection may not be invoked by health personnel or allied health personnel if, under particular circumstances, their personal intervention is essential to save the life of a woman in imminent danger."*
 

Article 16, Law 40 (19 February, 2004) (Assisted Conception)

[Similar provisions exist with respect to medically assisted conception.]*


*Precis in English from EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights, Opinion No. 4-2005:  The Right to Conscientious Objection and the Conclusion by EU Member States of Concordats with the Holy See (14 December, 2005), p. 12