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Why I will be a conscientious objector to Victoria’s assisted dying law

By NZHPA
October 29, 2018
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Originally published in MercartorNet, August 2018 by Adrian Dabscheck During a recent period of enforced rest, I had time to reflect on my attitude to the recently enacted voluntary assisted dying legislation in Victoria and consider my response.1 I will detail my reaction to the Act and why I have chosen to become a so-called conscientious objector. In his essay Western Attitudes Toward Death,2 French historian Philippe Ariès illustrates the …Read More

When doctors say No

By NZHPA
June 11, 2018
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Originally published in MercatorNet, May 2017 by Michael Quinlan As abortion, euthanasia and other controversial procedures become more widespread, conscientious objection for healthcare workers is becoming a flashpoint for controversy throughout the Western world. Some doctors and ethicists have argued that conscientious objection itself is unethical because doctors are required to fulfil any legal request that their patients make. MercatorNet interviewed Professor Michael Quinlan, dean of the law school at …Read More

Protecting the Careers of Medical Professionals Who Believe in the Hippocratic Oath

By NZHPA
June 8, 2018
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Originally published in The Center for Bioethics and Culture, May 2009 by Wesley J. Smith We live in a culturally diverse society in which people vary greatly in their moral beliefs about the importance of human life. These profound differences are most bitterly expressed in the medical context, particularly with regard to issues such as abortion, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research, and other life and death policies and procedures. …Read More

Understanding freedom of conscience

By NZHPA
May 25, 2018
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Originally published in Policy Options, May 2018 by Brian Bird The year 2017 marks the 150th anniversary since Confederation and the 35th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. By virtue of a court case in Ontario that might go all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada, 2017 may also be the year when freedom of conscience — until now a dormant Charter freedom — …Read More

Why the right to conscientious objection must be restored

By NZHPA
May 21, 2018
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Originally published in Conscience Laws, June 2014 Presentation to the Life Dinner Melbourne, Australia by David van Gend I feel a little out of place coming from Queensland to speak about the wretched situation in Victoria: coming from a State where it is always sunny, where the people are always nice, and where we don’t have oppressive laws that try to compel the conscience of free citizens. But we are all …Read More

Dear Canada, Respect for Conscience is Fundamental to Health Care

By NZHPA
March 18, 2016
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Rachael Wong is a lawyer from Auckland who is currently working as a legal consultant with the Law Reform Commission in Samoa. She has recently completed a Master of Bioethics and Health Law for which she wrote her dissertation on freedom of conscience in health care. She maintains that a health professional’s exercise of conscience is inseparable from their delivery of health care. Writing for First Things, Wesley J. Smith …Read More

The Right to Freedom of Conscience

By NZHPA
December 2, 2015
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By Neil Vaney Introduction A recent post from Terry Bellamak, new president of the Abortion Law Rights Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ), questions why health professionals such as doctors and nurses should be legally able to use the claim of freedom of conscience in refusing to provide contraceptive or abortion advice or services. (http://wp.me/x1XY6w-z1, 14 Sep 2015). Bellamak likens this to the case of Kim Davis, county clerk of Rowan …Read More

Moves to Restore the Right to Conscientious Objection in Victoria, Australia

By NZHPA
November 12, 2013
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Below is an interesting article published with permission from its author, Dr Dave Andrusko. It was first published in the National Right to Life News Today on Nov 7th 2013.  The headline reads: Pro-lifers and others in Victoria push to protect right of conscience for physicians who want no part in any abortion Dr. Mark Hobart Last month NRL News Today carried a story about a nightmarish scenario for Australian physician Dr. Mark Hobart. Hobart, …Read More

The Right to Freedom of Conscience under Attack

By NZHPA
August 11, 2013
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Some academics have recently suggested that conscientious objection is an unwarranted barrier to the provision of reproductive health care. In April 2013, the American Journal of Public Health published an article “Abortion Law Around the World: Progress and Pushback.” The authors perceive that there has been a rise in “unregulated conscientious objection”. They consider that this is a barrier for women trying to access lawful abortions. NZHPA believes that one inference that can be drawn from the article is that health professionals should be expected to “leave their conscience …Read More

Should medical staff be able to opt out on grounds of conscience?

By NZHPA
May 12, 2013
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Watch this topical debate on Conscientious Objection following a recent landmark Court ruling in the United Kingdom. Scotland Tonight looked at the issue of conscientious objection after the successful appeal by two midwives against an order to delegate, supervise, or support staff involved in providing abortions. NZHPA is very pleased to learn of the positive outcome to this case. Click on the image to watch the discussion. Discussion participants were Paul Tully of the pro-life group, Society for the …Read More