Gift of Life calls for opposition to abortion resolution

The anti-abortion lobby has urged Malta’s representatives on the Council of Europe to adhere to Malta’s pro-life stand and work to oppose a resolution aimed at facilitating access to abortion.

The resolution in question follows a report drafted by UK Socialist Christine McCafferty, Women’s Access To Lawful Medical Care, which deals with the option of medical practitioners refusing to offer or deliver a service to patients which they personally find morally objectionable.

A draft resolution based on this report, Gift Of Life said, invites European states to restrain the exercise of so called conscientious objection to facilitate access to services like abortion, assisted reproduction, sterilisation, euthanasia and contraception.

“We are particularly concerned with the fact that this report stands on the biased assertion that practices like abortion and euthanasia are a form of healthcare and a human right. It, therefore, implies and promotes them as fundamental rights and a regular form of healthcare that should be regulated like any other medical service,” it said.

GOL added that the report also attacked the autonomy of healthcare professionals and suggested that if healthcare providers were not prepared to offer legal, efficient and beneficial care to a patient because it conflicted with their values, they should not practise medicine.