South Africa bill to force nurses to commit abortions

CAPE TOWN, August 4, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – More than 250,000 abortions have been performed in South Africa since the 1996 Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act was introduced. Yesterday a wide range of pro-life groups gathered to lobby while a new bill was being debated in parliament. Unless the lobby achieves its goal by introducing a conscientious objectors clause, the bill will effectively force nurses to commit abortions.  The new bill aims to make abortion services easier to access. Although abortion on demand during the 12 weeks of pregnancy is fully funded by the South Africa government, lawmakers intend to reduce restrictions and requirements, multiply facilities and enable trained registered nurses to perform abortions. Nurses are already faced with the anguishing dilemma of coming on duty and being obliged to finish an abortion begun by pro-abortion staff during the previous shift.  Among the groups calling for a conscientious objector clause were the Christian View Network, Human Life International, Pro-Life South Africa and the Evangelical Alliance. These groups also want to introduce an amendment requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions.  Although yesterday’s hearings were not intended to reopen the debate on legal abortion, the pro-life groups focused largely on their fundamental objections to abortion and called for the 1996 act to be repealed. Their immediate worry, however, is that South African health-care workers may soon be deprived of their right to abstain from performing an action they consider degrading and immoral.  jmo