The association Professionals for Ethics in Spain announced that
3,000 Spaniards have written to the country's Minister of Health, Leire
Pajin, demanding that she respect the right of health care workers to
object to abortion and euthanasia.
Leonor Tamayo, a spokesman for Professional for Ethics, stated on
Jan. 4 that the 3,000 emails were the result of a campaign asking Pajin
to support Resolution 1763.
The resolution was approved in October 2010
by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognizing the
“right to conscientious objection in medical care.”
The resolution recommends that “no person, hospital or institution
shall be coerced, held liable or discriminated against in any manner
because of a refusal to perform, accommodate, assist or submit to an
abortion, the performance of a human miscarriage, or euthanasia or any
act which could cause the death of a human fetus or embryo, for any
reason.”
Resolutions of the Council of Europe are not legally binding, but
have considerable influence on the policies of EU member states.
Tamayo remarked that he is confident the number of emails to Pajin as
well as to regional health ministers will increase in the coming weeks.
SIC: CNA/EU