CATHOLIC NURSES & ABORTION    Search Catholic Nurses Websites - LINKS TO OTHER PAGES OUR ACTIVITIES HOMEPAGE CONSTITUTION MISSION NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP BOOKS ASSOCIATION EVENTS CATHOLIC NURSE JOURNALS PHOTOGRAPHS OUR PRAYERS & PILGRIMAGE - LINKS TO OTHER PAGES NEWS AND ARTICLES WORLD DAY OF THE SICK CATHOLICS GOING INTO HOSPITAL END OF LIFE ETHICS SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & ADULTS CATHOLIC NURSES& ABORTION EMPLOYMENT LAW HISTORY OF NURSING ARTICLES BIBLE READINGS CATHOLIC MIDI FILES       THE HOLY SEE POPE FRANCIS I CICIAMS INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC COMMITTEE OF NURSES AND MEDICO-SOCIAL ASSISTANTS CATHOLIC BISHOP'S CONFERENCE ENGLAND & WALES BLESSED HANNA CHRZANOWSKA (plus links to Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and Edith Cavell) CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LINKS PAGE - LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES     Jeremiah 1:5 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you'  CATHOLIC NURSES AND ABORTION LINKS AND ARTICLES POSITION STATEMENT OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF ENGLAND AND WALES ON USE OF COVID VACCINES DERIVED FROM ABORTED FOETAL CELL LINES AND DUTY TO PROTECT SELF AND OTHERS DECEMBER 2020 GMC GUIDANCE ON  PERSONAL BELIEFS AND  MEDICAL PRACTICE THOMAS MORE LEGAL CENTRE POPE FRANCIS REMINDS US IN 2020 OF CHURCH TEACHING UPHOLDING THE VALUE OF ALL HUMAN LIFE THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND PROTECTED AT EVERY STAGE FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL DEATH CURRENT ABORTION LAW IN EUROPE   GREAT BRITAIN -NO LEGAL RIGHT TO ELECTIVE ABORTION ON DEMAND UNLESS APPROVED BY 2 DOCTORS -ABORTION IS GRANTED WHEN GROUNDS FOR ABORTION ARE RECOGNIZED :Up to 24 weeks:Any actual or presumed risk of injury to physical or mental health of pregnant woman ,Risk of injury to physical or mental health of any existing children of family of pregnant woman At any stage: Risk to life of pregnant woman, Prevent grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of pregnant woman Substantial risk of serious physical or mental abnormalities in unborn child.   ALBANIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : At any stage:Risk to life or health of pregnant woman ,Severe (incurable) malformation of unborn child Up to 22 weeks:Social reasons- where Pregnancy is a result of sexual crime   ARMENIA- ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 22 weeks: Pregnant woman deprived of maternal rights during pregnancy, Divorce,Pregnancy as a result of rape,Medical grounds related to the health of pregnant woman Congenital abnormality in unborn child   AUSTRIA - ELECTIVE 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Immediate danger to life of pregnant woman Serious danger to life or to the physical or mental health of pregnant woman ,Serious danger of serious physical or mental defect in unborn child Pregnant woman became pregnant when under 14 years of age   AZERBAIJAN - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :At any stage:Child with disabilities in family ,Disability of husband Up to 22 weeks:Death of husband during pregnancy,Court order depriving or restricting parental rights,Refugee or internally displaced person status,Lack of housing, woman or husband unemployed, woman or husband in prison, Extra-marital pregnancy, divorce , Pregnancy as a result of rape,Multiple children - more than 5 in family , Azerbaijan has high levels of sex-selective abortion, resulting in the birth of more sons than daughter   BELARUS- ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : At any stage: Risk to life of pregnant woman. Up to 22 weeks: pregnant woman or husband in prison, Severe disability in husband,Additional child with a disability since childhood,Death of husband during pregnancy,Divorce during pregnancy,Court decision to remove parental rights,Pregnancy as a result of rape,Family has more than three children,Unemployment of pregnant woman or husband,Refugee status   BELGIUM - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : At any stage: Serious threat to life of pregnant woman Child will suffer from incurable disease if born (based on current scientific knowledge   BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - ELECTIVE 10 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Between 10 and 20 weeks: Risk to life and health of pregnant woman Risk to physical or mental health of unborn child Pregnancy as a result of sexual crime After 20 weeks:Saving life or health of pregnant woman[74] Counselling before and after an abortion is required in Serbia   BULGARIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :Up to 20 weeks: Risk to health of pregnant woman and unborn child At any stage: Risk to life of pregnant woman,Severe malformation in unborn child   CROATIA - ELECTIVE 10 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : At any stage:If there is risk to life of the pregnant woman, Risk of severe congenital physical or mental defects in unborn child,Pregnancy as a result of sexual crime .   CYPRUS - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :At any stage : Risk to physical or mental health of pregnant woman .Up to 19 weeks:Pregnancy as a result of sexual crime. Up to 24 weeks: Severe abnormality in unborn child   CZECHIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 24 weeks :Genetic grounds for abortion. At any stage:Danger to the life of pregnant woman , Serious malformation in unborn child,Unborn child consideredto be 'incapable of life' n   DENMARK - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 26 weeks Risk to life of pregnant woman ,Risk of severe deterioration in physical or mental health of pregnant woman ,Risk of deterioration of the health of pregnant woman due to existing or potential physical or mental illness ,Danger that unborn child will be affected by serious physical or mental disorder Pregnant woman considered incapable of giving proper care to child due to physical or mental disability or due to young age or immaturity , Pregnancy as a result of rape   ESTONIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 22 weeks:Risk to health of pregnant woman Severe mental or physical health disorder in unborn child,Medical condition in pregnant woman prevents development of unborn child Pregnant woman is under 15 years of age Pregnant woman is over 45 years of age   FINLAND - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :Up to 20 weeks:Care of child after birth would be considerable strain for pregnant woman ,Parent has medical condition that will cause difficulty in caring for child Pregnancy as a result of sexual crime/rape, Probable serious illness or disability in unborn child Pregnant woman was under 17 years of age at conception,Pregnant woman was over 40 years of age at conception,Pregnant woman has previously given birth to four or more children.Up to 24 weeks:Serious illness or disability in unborn child Permission is needed from National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) for abortions on social grounds or related to serious illness or disability in unborn child . At any stage of pregnancy - serious threat to the life of the mother   GERMANY - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 12 weeks:Pregnancy as a result of criminal offence/rape . Up to 22 weeks: Danger to life of pregnant woman,Danger of grave impairment to physical or mental health of pregnant woman Exceptional distress (at discretion of court),All abortions must be performed by a physician   GEORGIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Available after 12 weeks on medical and social grounds not specified in law but defined by the Ministry of Labour, Health Care and Social Security. Counselling is required before an abortion with a three-day waiting time. Parental consent for abortion is required in cases where a girl under 14 years of age is pregnant   GREECE - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :Up to 19 weeks:Pregnancy as a result of rape or incest Up to 24 weeks: Abnormality of unborn child At any stage:Risk to life of pregnant woman Risk of serious and continuous damage to physical or mental health of pregnant woman   HUNGARY - ELECTIVE 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Immediate danger to life of pregnant woman Serious danger to life or to the physical or mental health of pregnant woman ,Serious danger of serious physical or mental defect in unborn child Pregnant woman became pregnant when under 14 years of age   HUNGARY - NO ELECTIVE ABORTION Supports right to life of the unborn child - OTHER GROUNDS WHERE ABORTION IS GRANTED Up to 12 weeks:Severe danger to health of pregnant woman Probable severe disability or other impairment in unborn child Pregnancy as a result of criminal act,Severe crisis situation for pregnant woman Up to 18 weeks on grounds for 12 weeks where:Pregnant woman is incapacitated Pregnant woman did not recognise pregnancy in time,Term limit lapsed due to failure of health institution or authority Up to 20 weeks (and 24 weeks for delayed diagnoses): Probability of malformation in unborn child is 50% or more . At any stage: Risk to life of pregnant woman Malformation in unborn child renders post-natal life impossible   ICELAND - ELECTIVE 22 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :At any stage:Risk to life of pregnant woman Life of unborn child is not considered to be viable   IRELAND - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS (since 2018) - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 24 weeks :Serious risk to life or of serious harm to health of a pregnant woman. At any stage Immediate risk to health of pregnant woman or Condition affecting unborn child that is likely to lead to his or her death either before, or within 28 days of, birth   ITALY - ELECTIVE UP TO 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 13 weeks Serious risk to physical or mental health of pregnant woman .Probability of abnormalities or malformations in unborn child.At any stage:Serious threat to life of pregnant woman or risk of serious malformation to unborn child   LATVIA - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 12 weeks pregnancy as a result of rape . Up to 22 weeks other medical grounds relating to health of pregnant woman or malformation or health issues affecting viability of unborn child   LUXEMBOURG - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :At any stage:Serious threat to the health or life of pregnant woman Serious threat to the health or life of unborn child   MALTA -NO ELECTIVE ABORTION - OTHER GROUNDS :Immediate risk to life of pregnant woman   NETHERLANDS - ELECTIVE UP TO 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 24 weeks where a doctor confirms threat to physical or mental health of a pregnant woman   NORWAY - ELECTIVE 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 22 weeks: Pregnancy, childbirth or care of child may result in unreasonable adverse physical, mental, or economic impact on the woman Major risk of abnormailty of the unborn child .Pregnancy as a result of rape, The pregnant woman has a mental illness or physical disability   NETHERLANDS - ELECTIVE UP TO 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 24 weeks where a doctor confirms threat to physical or mental health of a pregnant woman   POLAND - NO ELECTIVE ABORTION - OTHER GROUNDS : Rarely but may be granted where there is threat to life of pregnant woman or Pregnancy is a result of rape   PORTUGAL - ELECTIVE UP TO 10 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 12 weeks: Danger to life of pregnant woman ,Serious threat to physical or mental health of pregnant woman ,Up to 16 weeks: Pregnancy as a result of rape .Up to 24 weeks: incurable serious disease or congenital malformation of unborn child. At any stage danger to life of the pregnant or non viable unborn child . SPAIN - ELECTIVE UP TO 14 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 22 weeks: Risk to life or health of pregnant woman Serious abnormality in unborn child At any stage:malformation or incurable disease in unborn child deemed incompatible with life   SWEDEN - ELECTIVE UP TO 18 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS : Up to 22 weeks: Serious medical risk to life or health of pregnant woma   SWITZERLAND - ELECTIVE UP TO 12 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :serious risk to physical or mental health of pregnant woman   UKRAINE - ELECTIVE UP TO 13 WEEKS - OTHER GROUNDS :Medical reasons pregnant woman or unborn child , pregnancy through rape   INFORMATION SOURCE WITH REFERENCE LISTS WIKIPEDIA 2024 ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING POSITION STATEMENT ON ABORTION JANUARY 2018 INCLUDING GUIDANCE FOR NURSES WORKING IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY WISH TO EXERCISE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION   Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor on the result of the HFE vote on abortion 2007 Many people of all faiths and none will have been very disappointed by the result of last night’s votes on the abortion time limit. But this issue will not go away. Whilst the law affects attitudes, it does not in itself compel anyone to have an abortion. Even without a change in the law there is much we can all do to change the situation. There are many people on all sides of this debate who agree that 200,000 abortions a year is far too many, and abortion on this scale can only be a source of profound sadness and distress to us all. Abortion is not only a personal choice. It is also about the choices our society makes to support women, their partners and families who face difficult decisions. For the sake of our common humanity, and the lives at stake, we must work to foster a new understanding and approach to relationships, responsibility and mutual support. Even without a change in the law we can and should work together at least to make abortion much rarer.    NMC ADVICE ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY GUIDANCE ON RELIGION AND BELIEF 'All the NMC's functions, policies, strategies and procedures will be screened and assessed to determine their relevance to meeting the General Duties under the Race, Disability and Gender Equality Duties. As part of the NMCs commitment to implementing an inclusive equality impact assessment process, function and policies,etc, will be assessed to ensure they do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief.'  HOUSE OF COMMONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE 12TH REPORT 2007 ON THE ABORTION ACT 1967 WRITTEN  REPONSE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC NURSES ENGLAND AND WALES TO THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING ON THEIR STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INQUIRY 2006/07 INTO THE ABORTION ACT 1967. NOVEMBER 2007 To The Royal College of Nursing Ethics Committee The Association of Catholic Nurses upholds traditional Catholic Church teaching of the sanctity of and the social duty and moral responsibility of all mankind to protect the dignity of   all human life particularly when it is  weakest and most vulnerable .  The most fundamental principles of medical and nursing practice  ,beneficence ,to do good and non-maleficence ,to do no harm are known to have  been inscribed into codes of professional practice since the time of the Hippocratic Oath around 420BC. The House of Commons Science and Technology recognizes that scientific developments within medicine can 'alter the balance of opinion on ethical and moral issues' (2007,p.3) but  has chosen to review only medical ,scientific and other current research in its inquiry into the Abortion Act 1967 forty years after its legalization in the UK. We do not believe such discussion can be divorced from moral and ethical debate. As nurses we believe our knowledge , skills and expertise should be employed to protect life not to deliberately take life. Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998 states  'Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law'. Nurses working in child protection will be particularly aware that maternal health damaging practices during pregnancy  that may affect the life of an unborn child are treated as serious in the child protection arena and can result in registration of an unborn child to protect its rights after birth. Under the same legal system within the UK 193,700 terminations of pregnancies were carried out in the UK in 2006. 9.5% of these abortions were performed during the second trimester between 13 weeks   and 20 weeks and 1.5% of the terminations were performed after 20 weeks.  1% of  abortions were performed on grounds of foetal abnormality and 149 were performed where there was grave danger to the life of the mother if the pregnancy continued. In many European countries such as France, Germany Holland and Italy except in cases of severe foetal abnormality abortion is illegal after 13 weeks. Research in the UK indicates 68% of the UK population and 72% women feel the upper limit of 24 weeks gestation (up to full  term for a child with an abnormality) for abortion should be changed and support a legal reduction of the upper limit for abortion to 13 weeks in this country. Most medical sources agree that dangers of abortion increase to the mother the longer the pregnancy has progressed beyond the first trimester and that there is increased risk of miscarriage or pre-term delivery in subsequent pregnancies. There is also increased possibility that the foetus will experience pain and distress during the surgical process of a second trimester termination. The pregnant uterus has moved higher into the abdominal cavity so that the foetus can have more room to grow as flutters begin to be   felt and heartbeats   heard.. Whilst some scientific theories argue that development of neural pathways sufficient for   foetal sentience   or sensitivity to pain does not exist until around 26 weeks the Medical Research Council written evidence (2007) states they have found  that there was little direct evidence of the gestational age at which fetuses might feel pain; this would be dependent, inter alia, on the development of the central nervous system. There was no definable stage of fetal life when one set of neurons connected to another. The nervous system matured over many pre- and post-natal months to produce complete pain awareness. The Group concluded that there was still a great need for research into many areas of fetal pain. Invasive procedures such as amniocentesis and more accurate details of foetal growth, development and expressions  through 3D and 4D ultra sound scans suggest a foetus can show signs of pain and distress long before 26 weeks. The expectation of trained nurses to handle surgical abortions matched by a continued lack of funding and reduction of essential resources for  ordinary everyday work practice situations that often affects nurses more than medical practitioners must create the possibility of unreasonable expectations and grave risk to professional nurse and the patient. Although the Abortion Act (1967) clearly states 'no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection' and the Department of Health written evidence (2007) to the  Scientific and Technology Committee states 'Their conscientious objection should not be detrimental to their careers and appointments' the active promotion of abortion by medical and nursing professional organizations does in fact create a double effect of discrimination that affects non abortion beliefs and choices both  of patients and  professional nurses and doctors in work practice situations. As an organization of Catholic Nurses   we are saddened and   concerned that the Royal College of Nursing ,which as an organization represents the legal interests of a large proportion of nurses in the UK, has chosen in its own written evidence (2007) to the Committee to seek to expand nurse involvement in the provision of existing abortion services and not to consider any support for a reduction of the upper time limit  which would seem to be more reflective of the wishes of the general population. Department of Health (2007) Written Evidence to The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the Abortion Act 1967 HMSO (1967) Abortion Act ,London,HMSO HMSO (1998) Human Rights Act ,London,HMSO House of Commons (2007) Scientific Developments Relating to the Abortion Act 1967,The Science and Technology Committee,House of Commons, London, TSO Medical Research Council (2007) Written Evidence to The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the Abortion Act 1967 Royal College of Nursing (2007) Written Evidence to The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the Abortion Act 1967   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WRITTEN EVIDENCE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE FOR THE 12TH REPORT 2007 ON THE ABORTION ACT 1967  LEGAL POSITION 2007 ON COSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION '10. Except where treatment is necessary to save the life of or prevent grave permanent injury to the pregnant woman, "no person shall be under any duty ...... to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection". It has been the case that if medical or nursing staff have strong ethical or moral objections to abortion work they should not be obliged to take this on. Their conscientious objection should not be detrimental to their careers and appointments. Further clarity on this clause was provided in a House of Lords judgment in 1988. This found that this exemption does not extend to giving advice, performing preparatory steps to arrange an abortion where the request meets legal requirements and undertaking administration connected with abortion procedures. The General Medical Council (GMC) booklet Good Medical Practice states that doctors views about a patients lifestyle or beliefs must not prejudice the treatment they provide or arrange. If they feel their beliefs might affect the treatment, this must be explained to the patient who should be told of their right to see another doctor.' THE ABORTION ACT 1967 SECTION  4 Conscientious objection to participation in treatment. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection: Provided that in any legal proceedings the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest on the person claiming to rely on it. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall affect any duty to participate in treatment which is necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman. HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY ACT 1990 HFEA