# Conscientious objection to abortion

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Right of medical staff to refuse participation in abortion

**Conscientious objection to abortion** is the right of medical staff to refuse participation in [abortion](/source/Abortion) for reasons of personal opposition to abortion on moral grounds.

## By country

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and Europe and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (May 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

### Americas

#### United States

Main article: [Conscience clause in medicine in the United States](/source/Conscience_clause_in_medicine_in_the_United_States)

### Europe

Legal framework for the conscientious objection to abortion in Europe as of December 5, 2020[1][2]
  Conscientious objection to abortion not allowed

  Conscientious objection to abortion allowed

Conscientious objection is granted in 22 [member states of the European Union](/source/Member_state_of_the_European_Union) plus the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), [Norway](/source/Norway) and [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland). It is not granted in [Sweden](/source/Sweden), [Finland](/source/Finland), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria), [Iceland](/source/Iceland), or [Turkey](/source/Turkey).[3] The right of member states to enact legislation that limit the right to conscientious objection to abortion was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights in March 2020.[4]

#### Croatia

See also: [Abortion in Croatia](/source/Abortion_in_Croatia)

Doctors and other medical personnel have the right to conscientious objection. [Rada Borić](/source/Rada_Bori%C4%87) ([Women's Network Croatia](/source/Women's_Network_Croatia)) has argued that it is given more prominence than the women's right to abortion, thus making it difficult.[5] On February 21, 2017, the [Constitutional Court](/source/Constitutional_Court_of_Croatia) ordered the [Parliament](/source/Croatian_Parliament) to enact new abortion law within two years, introducing educational and preventive measures to make abortion an exception and not a rule, and to regulate conscientious objection.[6]

#### Czech Republic

See also: [Abortion in the Czech Republic](/source/Abortion_in_the_Czech_Republic)

In the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic) since 2011, doctors and medical personnel can choose not to provide abortion care or prescribe any [contraceptive](/source/Contraceptive) (called *[Výhrada svědomí](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%BDhrada_sv%C4%9Bdom%C3%AD)*). However, if a doctor refuses to provide abortion care they have to refer the patient to another doctor who can.

#### Hungary

See also: [Abortion in Hungary](/source/Abortion_in_Hungary)

In 2013, the [Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women](/source/Committee_on_the_Elimination_of_Discrimination_against_Women) of the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) expressed concern about "the increasing resort to conscientious objection by health professionals in the absence of an adequate regulatory framework."[7]

#### Ireland

See also: [Abortion in the Republic of Ireland](/source/Abortion_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland)

Under section 22 of the [Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018](/source/Health_(Regulation_of_Termination_of_Pregnancy)_Act_2018), medical practitioners, nurses and midwives have the right not to participate in abortions, except when there is a risk to life or health of the pregnant woman in emergency. They also have to make arrangements to enable the woman to get an abortion.[8]

#### Italy

See also: [Abortion in Italy § Conscientious objection](/source/Abortion_in_Italy#Conscientious_objection)

The law gives the option for [health professionals](/source/Health_professional) to claim the right to refuse to perform abortion. If the health personnel demands to be [conscientious objector](/source/Conscientious_objector), they have to declare it in advance (Art.9). However, conscientious objection may not be invoked by health professionals if the personal intervention is essential in order to save the life of a woman in imminent danger.[9]

Italy keeps a record of the objecting doctors. According to data from the Ministry of Health, between 1997 and 2016 there was a 12.9% increase in the number of gynecologists who refuse to perform abortions on moral grounds, from 62.8% to 70.9%, the highest percentage ever recorded. As of 2016 the percentage is higher than the national average in [Southern Italy](/source/Southern_Italy) (83.5%) and [Sicily and Sardinia](/source/Insular_Italy) (77.7%), and lower in [Central](/source/Central_Italy) (70.1%) and [Northern Italy](/source/Northern_Italy) (63.9%). The percentage is growing in all the [macroregions](/source/Macroregion) except the North. As a result, voluntary abortion is performed only in 60% of the hospitals of the country. Also, non-objecting doctors suffer discrimination, and -in some provinces- needs to perform record-numbers of abortions, up to 15.8 per week in the [province of Taranto](/source/Province_of_Taranto) ([Apulia](/source/Apulia)) or 12.2 in the [province of Catania](/source/Province_of_Catania) ([Sicily](/source/Sicily)).[2]

A resolution by the [Council of Europe](/source/Council_of_Europe) has found several violations of the [European Social Charter](/source/European_Social_Charter) in the situation:

- [right to protection of health](/source/Right_to_health) (art. 11) of women seeking abortion;

- [right to work](/source/Right_to_work) (art. 1) and to [dignity](/source/Dignity) at work (art. 26) of non-objecting medical practitioners, because of different treatment and moral harassment.[10][11]

#### Poland

See also: [Abortion in Poland](/source/Abortion_in_Poland)

The [Constitutional Tribunal](/source/Constitutional_Tribunal_(Poland)) "abolished a requirement that medical professionals who refuse to provide health services refer patients to an alternate medical provider".[12]

#### Portugal

See also: [Abortion in Portugal](/source/Abortion_in_Portugal)

Abortion was legalised in Portugal in 2007. The law allows conscientious objection[13] and many doctors refuse to perform abortion,[14] making it difficult for women to access it.[15]

#### United Kingdom

See also: [Abortion in the United Kingdom](/source/Abortion_in_the_United_Kingdom)

In [England and Wales](/source/England_and_Wales) and [Scotland](/source/Scotland), medical staff has the right to refuse to participate in abortion because of conscientious objection.[16] Section 4 of the [Abortion Act 1967](/source/Abortion_Act_1967) (which does not extend in [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland), where abortion is prohibited under most circumstances) states:

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection:

Provided that in any legal proceedings the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest on the person claiming to rely on it. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall affect any duty to participate in treatment which is necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman.

(3) In any proceedings before a court in Scotland, a statement on oath by any person to the effect that he has a conscientious objection to participating in any treatment authorised by this Act shall be sufficient evidence for the purpose of discharging the burden of proof imposed upon him by subsection (1) of this section.

### Oceania

#### New Zealand

See also: [Abortion in New Zealand](/source/Abortion_in_New_Zealand)

In New Zealand, Conscientious Objection in Abortion is supported by legislation and employment was protected against discrimination, however, in 2020, this protection was partially removed where it causes unreasonable disruption to an employers services.[17]

## See also

- [Conscientious objector](/source/Conscientious_objector)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-abjour_1-0)** Chavkin, Wendy (2017). ["Regulation of Conscientious Objection to Abortion"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473038). *Health and Human Rights*. **19** (1): 55–68. [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5473038](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473038). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28630541](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28630541).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EDJNet_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EDJNet_2-1) Tamma, Paola (24 May 2018). ["Even where abortion is legal, access is not granted"](https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/eng/News/Data-news/Even-where-abortion-is-legal-access-is-not-granted). *VoxEurop/EDJNet*. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Heino, A.; Gissler, M.; Apter, D.; Fiala, C. (2013). "Conscientious objection and induced abortion in Europe". *The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care*. **18** (4): 231–3. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3109/13625187.2013.819848](https://doi.org/10.3109%2F13625187.2013.819848). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23848269](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23848269). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [26769659](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:26769659).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *Ellinor Grimmark against Sweden*, [43726/17](http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-201915) (European Court of Human Rights 2020).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Jasić, Mirna (22 December 2014). ["Croazia: diritto all'aborto a rischio"](https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Croazia/Croazia-diritto-all-aborto-a-rischio-157967). *Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa* (in Italian). Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Zvonimir, Šarić (7 March 2018). ["Croazia: come sarà la nuova legge sull'aborto?"](https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Croazia/Croazia-come-sara-la-nuova-legge-sull-aborto-186516). *Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa* (in Italian). Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (1 March 2013). [Concluding Observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Hungary adopted by the Committee at its fifty fourth session (11 February – 1 March 2013)](https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/co/cedaw.c.hun.co.7-8.pdf) (PDF) (Report). United Nations. p. 8. Retrieved 4 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018](https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/act/2018/31/eng/enacted/a3118.pdf) (PDF) (31). Oireachtas. 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_9-0)** ["Law 194"](http://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/degrazia/courseworks/legge_194.pdf) (PDF). *Columbia*. Italian legislation. Retrieved 18 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Resolution CM/ResChS(2016)3"](https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=0900001680687bdc). Council of Europe. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["European Social Charter (Revised)"](https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/rms/090000168007cf93). Council of Europe. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in Europe](https://rm.coe.int/women-s-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-in-europe-issue-pape/168076dead) (Report). Council of Europe. December 2017. p. 23. Retrieved 4 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Henrique, Almeida (15 November 2007). ["Portugal doctors stand by anti-abortion principles"](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL15906281). *Reuters*. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["In Portugal, abortion legal but many doctors refuse to perform them"](https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/in-portugal-abortion-legal-but-many-doctors-refuse-to-perform-them/5a63e08f-7ea0-4a9b-a9a5-4eac4ad570cf). *WBEZ*. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Meghan, Power (16 August 2011). ["Worldview series examines abortion around the world"](https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/worldview-series-examines-abortion-around-the-world/2eb92b2e-c03f-4595-a698-d6f055f894e2). *WBEZ*. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Conscientious objection"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180118001942/https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/advocacy/briefings/conscientious-objection/). *British Pregnancy Advisory Service*. Archived from [the original](https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/advocacy/briefings/conscientious-objection/) on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Abortion Legislation Act 2020 No 6, Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation"](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0006/latest/LMS237550.html). *www.legislation.govt.nz*. Retrieved 1 May 2021.

## External links

- ["IMAP Statement on conscientious objection"](https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/IMAP%20Statement%20on%20conscientious%20objection.pdf) (PDF). International Planned Parenthood Federation. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

- ["Unconscionable: When Providers Deny Abortion Care"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181219072624/https://iwhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IWHC_CO_Report-Web_single_pg.pdf) (PDF). International Women's Health Coalition. Archived from [the original](https://iwhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IWHC_CO_Report-Web_single_pg.pdf) (PDF) on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Conscientious objection to abortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objection_to_abortion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objection_to_abortion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.