Nearly 70 per cent of Italy’s gynaecologists refuse to perform abortions, citing ‘conscientious objections’, according to an Italian Health Ministry report covered by Agence France-Presse.
This is up from 59 per cent in 2003. The percentage of anaesthetists who refuse to assist in abortions increased from about 46 per cent to 50 per cent during the same time period.
In the south of Italy, the percentage of gynaecologists and anaesthetists who refuse to perform abortions is ‘even more pronounced and in certain areas, has almost doubled’, the report said. In Campania and Sicily, the number of gynaecologists who refused to perform abortions reached 83 per cent and about 84 per cent, respectively.
Abortion is legal in Italy up to 12 weeks’ gestation. After that, abortion is legal only if the pregnancy is deemed a ‘grave danger’ to a woman’s life.
About Gary Culliton
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