Abortion Bill Update - Conscience, Meetings & Prayer

As the Victorian Legislative Council prepares to debate the Abortion Law Reform Bill next week (7-9 Oct), we encourage you to keep praying.

• If you are able, please come to the prayer meeting/rally on the steps of parliament on Sunday 5 October 1.45 – 2.45 pm.
• On Monday night, 6 October, Endeavour Forum is holding a meeting in Melbourne with an MP and a pro-life barrister discussing the Abortion Bill – details below .#  

Conscientious Objection clauses in the Abortion Bill

Doctors and nurses are expressing grave concerns about the conscientious objection clauses in the Bill.

The Bill says that if a doctor does not want to do an abortion because of conscience, they MUST REFER a patient to a doctor they KNOW will perform an abortion.

This is NOT a valid conscientious objection. Doctors are saying they would have to resign rather than do this – and country areas are already desperately short of doctors.

There are similar implications or nurses, psychologists and pharmacists.
Another clause requires pharmacists to hand out abortion drugs to a woman up to 24 weeks pregnant.

‘Doctors in Conscience against the Abortion Bill’

A new group has been formed by concerned doctors, nurses, psychologists and pharmacists to ask the Parliament to REJECT the Bill.
As well as concern over the Bill itself, and concern for the women and the babies, they are concerned about the ‘conscientious objection’ section of the Bill.  

Are you a health professional?

Please support the group’s petition – see http://www.doctorsconscience.org/  
Click here for their statement. The group invites doctors, nurses and psychologists and pharmacists to check their website, read the statement and fill in their details in support. Their email is media@doctorsconscience.org
 
Do you know Christian doctors in Victoria ?

Please encourage them to visit the group’s website and support the petition.   AMA says conscientious objection clause infringes rights of doctors Dr Doug Travis, President of the Australian Medical Association (Victorian Branch) has also expressed concern about the conscientious objection clause, saying “The Bill infringes the rights of doctors with a conscientious objection by inserting an active compulsion for a doctor to refer to another doctor who they know does not have a conscientious objection. Respect for a conscientious objection is a fundamental principle in our democratic country, and doctors expect that their rights in this regard will be respected, as for any other citizen.”

Charles Francis QC - on conscience and best interests of patient
Charles Francis QC has represented a number of women taking legal action against abortionists. His letter was published in The Australian yesterday - on conscience and the interests of the patient/professional judgment.  

A violation of conscience  

Letter to the editor, The Australian, 1 October 2008.
“The opposition of Catholic Health Australia to the Victoria 's Abortion Law Reform Bill's   attempts to override the conscience of medical practitioners who refuse to refer patients for abortion  is fully justified:  ("Abortion laws face growing hostility" - 29/9/08).  The Bill is a violation of conscience and religious belief, the very antithesis of democracy.
 
There is, however, a further grave objection.  A doctor may not only have a conscientious objection to abortion, but from his own personal knowledge of his patient and her family may also know that she falls in the high risk category for the development of psychological problems or has a family history of breast cancer.  Full-term pregnancy has a protective effect against breast cancer. 
 
Doctors who refer patients for abortion and abortion providers are often unaware of these risks.  In these circumstances it could be gross negligence to refer the patient on as required by the Bill.  As a trial lawyer I have acted for and obtained settlements for women who sued abortionists for not being warned of these risks.   
 
A doctor  is not required to refer a patient for a tonsillectomy if he does not think it is in the best interests of that patient. Being compelled to provide a referral for an abortion may override a doctor's medical judgment as to what is in his patient's best interests and involve him in what amounts to medical malpractice.  

Charles Francis, AM, QC
#  Details: Endeavour Forum Inc. Public Meeting
Defending Life - Opposing the Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008
Time and date: 7.30 pm on Monday, 6th October 2008
Venue: St. Michael’s Hall, 2, Victory Blvde, Ashburton, Vic. 3147.
Speakers:        The Hon. Bernie Finn, MLC (Lib, Vic)
                        Mrs Carolyn Burnside, Pro-life barrister
Chairman: Mr. David Perrin, National President, Australian Family Association.
Opening Prayer: Mrs. Gayle Baulch - Pregnancy Counselling - Options Plus Care.
Vote of thanks: Mrs. Jenny Stokes, Research Director, Salt Shakers
All welcome, $5 donation appreciated.
RSVP: Mrs. Margaret Butts, 9589 5039 or Mrs. Babette Francis, 9822 5218 - or just turn up!

Action

This is a crucial time for Victoria . . .
Just a few votes will decide the outcome. . .
Victorians, if you haven’t contacted your FIVE Members of the Legislative Council yet, PLEASE DO SO!

Click here for contact details of your MPs – just type your address in the grey box and click ‘Search’. The first MP listed is your Legislative Assembly MP, the next FIVE are your Legislative Council Members.

And keep praying!