Resolution aimed at facilitating access to abortion should be opposed - Gift of Life

An appeal for Malta’s representatives in the Council of Europe to adhere to the country’s pro-life position and work to oppose a resolution aimed at facilitating access to abortion has been made by the Gift of Life.

In a letter to the representatives, GoL said that the draft report ‘Women’s access to lawful medical care: the problem of unregulated use of conscientious objection’ was due to be tabled for debate and vote at the next Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in October.

This report, GoL said, focused on conscientious objection with regard to health and medical services, including reproductive health services.

These included abortion and other practices such as assisted reproduction, sterilisation, euthanasia and contraception, and was aimed at strongly restricting the right of medical practitioners and others to conscientiously object to providing the above-mentioned practices.

On the basis of this report, a draft resolution invited European States to restrain the exercise of conscientious objection in order to facilitate access to abortion and other practices.

GoL said that should this resolution be passed, great political pressure would be exerted on Malta in this regard.

“We are particularly concerned about the fact that this report stands on the biased assertion that practices like abortion and euthanasia are a form of health care and a human right.

“It therefore implies and promotes them as fundamental rights and as a regular form of health care that should be regulated like any other medical service.”

GoL said the report also attacked the autonomy of health care professionals and suggested that if healthcare providers were not prepared to offer legal, efficient and beneficial care to a patient because it conflicted with their values, they should not practise medicine.

“The Gift of Life foundation has full confidence that our political representatives at the CoE will once again adhere to Malta’s pro-life position and dedicate their time and efforts to work with other pro-life groups in opposing this resolution.

“We are confident that you will vote against the report as a whole and support any pro-life amendments that may be tabled,” it said.