Abortion - fpa Reacts To BMA Decision On Conscientious Objection, UK

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 11 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Speaking about The British Medical Association's conference vote today on conscientious objections, Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, fpa said:

"We are disappointed that doctors do not have to make patients aware that they conscientiously object to abortion in advance of a consultation. It would save women time and distress knowing which doctors will not refer them before they make the appointment.

About 20 per cent of doctors say they are against abortion and some let this influence the advice and guidance they offer to patients, including using the referral system as a way of delaying or effectively stopping women from accessing the procedure. We know from calls to our helpline how distressing is for women.

However we welcome that the BMA has passed a motion that doctors must inform women before the consultation begins. We hope that the BMA decision will help to alleviate some of the issues this raises for women seeking medical advice for an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy."

http://www.fpa.org.uk