Maltese MPs contribute to vote against abortion

Maltese MPs at the Council of Europe assembly in Strasbourg have contributed to the extensive amendments of a resolution and recommendation on the right of conscientious objection in lawful medical care.

They were Francis Agius and Joe Falzon for the Nationalist Party and Joe Debono Grech for the Labour Party.

The members were discussing and voting on the text presented by the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee entitled “Women’s access to lawful medical care: the problem of unregulated use of conscientious objection.”

Conscientious objection in the health care field occurred when health professionals, such as doctors or nurses, refused to provide certain services based on religious, moral or philosophical objections.

As rapporteur Christine McCafferty pointed out, these services consisted of, for example, certain family planning services and reproductive technologies, safe abortion services where legal, and pain-relief by life-shortening means for terminally ill patients.

The original text presented by the Committee was substantially amended, with the adopted resolution now stating that:

“no person and no hospital or institution shall be coerced, held liable or discriminated against in any manner because of a refusal to perform, accommodate, assist or submit to an abortion …”

The objections to the McCafferty report from the Maltese side were to retain the right of conscientious objection to participation in certain medical procedures and the ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals, while at the same time ensuring that patients were not prevented from receiving the necessary medical care appropriate to their need in a timely manner. A total of 89 amendments were presented.

The amended resolution was adopted with 56 votes in favour, 51 against and 4 abstentions. The amended recommendation was not adopted as it did not get the required two thirds majority.

The resolution was also discussed earlier in the week by the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.

The Committee members were called upon to approve an opinion report prepared by rapporteur Ingrida Circene, which supported the McCafferty resolution and recommendation.

Malta - which was represented by MP Mary Louise Coleiro Preca, formed part of the minority - three countries - that voted against the opinion report.