Conscientious objection allows healthcare professionals to refuse to provide an abortion if it conflicts with their personal or religious beliefs, but it can also result in denying women legal access to services to which they are legally entitled.
Conscientious objection, its use and mis-use, will be the focus of a film screening and discussion event, organised by Abortion Access Campaign West, which takes place in the Galway Art's Centre, Dominick Street, on Wednesday March 11 at 7.30pm.
The documentary, Abandoned, focuses on women who have died or suffered after being denied a legal abortion, when doctors refuse to perform a legal abortion for reasons of conscience, will be screened.
'The refusal to treat patients is rightly not tolerated when it is based on grounds such as ethnicity, religion, disability, yet it is tolerated based on gender and pregnancy status'
There will also be a talk by Dr Heike Schmidt-Felzman, lecturer at NUI Galway School of Humanities, who has researched and published on governance failures and organisational ethics in ethical and legal debates in Irish healthcare. She will speak about the complexities of conscientious objection regarding reproductive justice.
Conscientious objection has become topical in Ireland following the enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy ) Act 2018. The Medical Council has recently updated its Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Professionals, outlining the extent of conscientious objection to abortion. However, there is a lack of evidence yet as to what effect medical staff making a conscientious objection in providing abortion services means for patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare institutions.
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"It is an important to explore the possible consequences of conscientious objection," said a spokesperson for AAC. "The refusal to treat patients is rightly not tolerated when it is based on grounds such as ethnicity, religion, disability, yet it is tolerated based on gender and pregnancy status. Obviously, misinterpretation of 'conscientious objection' can lead to barriers in service provision.
"Women who present for abortion should be dealt with urgently and respectfully, as any other emergency patient, without punitive, prejudiced or biased behaviours. According to the World Health Organisation best practice guide, those who conscientiously object 'must refer the woman to a willing and trained provider in the same area, or another easily accessible health-care facility, in accordance with national law.'"
All are welcome to the screening and discussion.
