Abortion objectors' inclusion on new lists by Christian doctors in Spain is causing unease

In March 2023, the Spanish Minister of Health, Mónica García, created a list of health workers who conscientiously object to the practice of voluntary termination of pregnancy. This move has sparked a heated debate in Spain, with various entities expressing concerns about its implications.

The list was established under the Spanish government's abortion law reform, which includes regulations for conscientious objection for health workers. However, these entities argue that the government's position on healthcare is not credible and too conditioned by ideological prejudices.

The general director of Areópago Protestante, a retired doctor, has expressed concern about the creation of the list, stating that it could lead to reprisals or persecution of objectors in their workplaces. The entities underline that this could obstruct women's legal right to timely abortion care.

The controversy in Spain revolves around balancing health workers' rights to refuse participation in abortions with ensuring women's access to legal abortion services. This tension creates legal challenges, political debate, and administrative difficulties in health systems.

The protocol for the conscientious objector list provides for two types of objection: total and partial. Total objection refers to health workers who refuse to intervene in an abortion under any circumstance. Partial objection includes some cases in which it is possible to object, such as at the request of the woman within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a serious risk to the woman's life up to 22 weeks, a serious risk to the baby also up to 22 weeks, or anomalies incompatible with life or extremely serious and incurable illness in the foetus.

Critics argue that creating a list of objectors violates human rights and discriminates. They emphasise that what should be done is the opposite, i.e. a list of health professionals who are willing to participate in an abortion. Entities such as the Observatory for Religious Freedom and Freedom of Conscience, and Professionals for Ethics, have rejected the procedure approved by the Spanish ministry of health.

The list will include all professionals directly involved in the process of voluntary termination of pregnancy: gynaecologists and obstetricians, anaesthetists, family doctors, nurses, and midwives. The creation of the register will be done in each region and at the National Institute of Health Management.

In 2023, over 103,000 abortions were completed in Spain. Despite the high number, critics argue that the government's focus on abortion care comes at the expense of addressing life-threatening illnesses.

This controversy in Spain is not unique. Parallels from regional experiences such as in Argentina and Italy highlight key points of controversy, including the potential for stigmatization, mandatory service assurance, legal and ethical frameworks, and access versus objection.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Spain will navigate these complex issues and ensure the protection of both health workers' rights and women's access to legal abortion services.

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Abortion objectors' inclusion on new lists by Christian doctors in Spain is causing unease