The National Association of Catholic Nurses, U.S.A. Joined with 25,000 Physicians Fighting Proposed Global Abortion Policy to Strip Conscience Rights Protections
The World Medical Association (WMA) representing 10 million physicians worldwide is poised to approve a policy that would demand doctors refer for abortion, even against their conscience. It is important to understand the differences between Referral and Transfer of Care.
Read the Joint Letter to AMA in Opposition to WMA Proposed Changes
Read the response from AMA and their position
The WMA was founded in 1947 in response to Nazi atrocities during World War II. The organization promotes itself as “evaluating and codifying ethics in healthcare.” Currently the WMA policy requires doctors ensure continuity of care for patients who choose abortion, but does not force doctors to refer for abortions. However the WMA’s proposed revision proposes the following amendments:
“Individual doctors have a right to conscience objection to providing or referral for abortion, but that right does not entitle them to impede or deny access to lawful abortion services because it delays care for women, putting their health and life at risk. In such cases, the physician must refer the woman to a willing and trained health professional in the same, or another easily accessible health-care facility, in accordance with national law. Where referral is not possible, the physician who objects, must provide safe abortion or perform whatever procedure is necessary to save the woman’s life and to prevent serious injury to her health.”
The proposed changes in policy would also eliminate the provision that “requires the physician to maintain respect for human life.”
The NACN-USA jointly sent the above letter co-written by: American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Pediatricians, Catholic Medical Association, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, and The National Catholic Bioethics Center to the AMA strongly denouncing the WMA’s proposed change forcing physicians to refer for or conduct abortions.
The general assembly of the WMA is scheduled to vote in October.
Read the 2006 Oslo Declaration / Read the 2017 Proposed Revisions
Posted 2/13/2018
