Catholic Hospitals will be Forced to Perform Abortions - Varadkar

22.06.2018

Even hospitals with a Catholic ethos will be expected to carry out abortions when the government’s planned abortion law is introduced, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

He said there would be limited accommodation for doctors, nurses or midwives, who could opt out of performing abortions on conscience grounds. They would, however, be obliged to refer a woman on to someone willing to perform an abortion. But institutions, he said, will not have that option.

The Taoiseach said the legislation would follow the model of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, which allows individual medics to opt out of performing abortions.

“It will not, however, be possible for publicly-funded hospitals, no matter who their patron or owner is, to opt out of providing these necessary services which will be legal in this state once this legislation is passed by the Dáil and Seanad,” he added.

Mr Varadkar added: "That legislation will allow individuals to opt out based on their consciences or their religious convictions but will not allow institutions to do so.

“So, just as is the case now in the legislation for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, hospitals like for example Holles Street, which is a Catholic voluntary ethos hospital, the Mater, St Vincent’s and others will be required, and will be expected to, carry out any procedure that is legal in this state and that is the model we will follow.”

BBC. June 12.