Nearly 70% Of Italian Gynecologists Refuse To Perform Abortions, Health Ministry Report Says

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 25 Apr 2008 - 11:00 PST

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Nearly 70% of Italy's gynecologists refuse to perform abortions, citing "conscientious objections," according to a report released on Tuesday by the Italian Health Ministry, AFP/Google.com reports. This is a sizeable increase from 59% in 2003. The percentage of anesthetists who refuse to assist in abortions increased from about 46% to 50% during the same time period.

In the southern part of the country, the percentage of gynecologists and anesthetists who refuse to perform abortions is "even more pronounced and, in certain areas, has almost doubled," the report said. It added that in Campania and Sicily, the number of gynecologists who refused to perform abortions reached 83% and about 84%, respectively (AFP/Google.com, 4/22).

Under a 1978 law, abortion is legal up to 12 weeks' gestation in the country. After that, abortion is legal only if the pregnancy is deemed a "grave danger" to a woman's life (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/14). The report also found that the number of abortions declined by 3% from 131,018 in 2006 to 127,038 in 2007, and illegal abortions declined to about 15,000, the report found. Silvio Viale, a Milan-based gynecologist and abortion-rights advocate, said access to abortion services in Italy is "more and more resembling an obstacle course" (AFP/Google.com, 4/22).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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