News

By Gudrun Schultz

  VATICAN CITY, March 5, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An Italian doctor’s resignation from the College of Physicians in protest over the College’s failure to discipline a member involved in a euthanasia case received the praise of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Zenit News Agency reported March 4.

  Dr. Stefano Ojetti resigned from his position as adviser to the College after his colleagues decided not to take disciplinary action against Dr. Mario Riccio, an anesthetist who acted against orders in unplugging Peirgiorgio Welby’s respirator, ending Welby’s life. Severely disabled, pro-euthanasia activist Welby had publicly petitioned for aid in ending his life, unleashing a national debate on the legalization of euthanasia.

  In his letter of resignation Dr. Ojetti said every eugenic act was openly against the Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm” and the code of medical ethics. He described the death of Welby as a “sad and dark page in the history of our medicine.”

  L’Osservatore Romano, commenting on Dr. Ojetti’s decision, said, “Ojetti’s gesture merits the highest consideration and has exemplary value for those who exercise the medical profession.”

“At the same time, it is a duty to add a word of encouragement for those, within the decision-making organization of the College of Physicians, who continue their battle in defense of life, a value that is extremely attacked today,” said the Vatican newspaper.

“In fact, mobilization in defense of life passes also through commitment within the organizations that have the competence to regulate the activity of medical and health care agents.”

  L’Osservatoire Romano’s expression of support for Dr. Ojetti was in keeping with the Vatican’s recent encouragement to people resisting anti-life legislation, urging them to exercise conscientious objection to policies opposed to life. The Vatican hosted an international congress at the Pontifical Academy for Life Feb. 23-24, on ‘Christian Conscience in Support of the Right to Life’ .

  Addressing the need for doctors and medical personnel, in particular, to exercise conscientious objection, the conference encouraged those working in medical and biological research fields to witness to respect for life when necessary by withdrawing their participation from anti-life policies and research approaches.

“Man is a free being who establishes his behaviour and forges his will in a series of ethical and/or religious principles,” Professor Monica Lopez Barahona of the University of Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid said. “Loyalty to these principles brings the right and the need of conscientious objection.”

  Bishop Sgreccia said conscientious objection “accompanied by love for truth and for all people” is not avoidance of responsibility, but “a testimony of support and assistance.”

  See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

  Vatican Hosts International Congress on Conscience and the Right to Life
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/feb/07022005.html