Referral rules for conscientious objectors a serious flaw in abortion reforms, doctors warn
AMA WA 'largely supports' proposed reforms, but has some concerns.
Requiring conscientious objectors to abortion to write referrals to abortion providers would exacerbate delays and “cross a line in terms of doctors’ autonomy”, AMA WA says.
WA is preparing to update abortion legislation for the first time in 25 years, after Minister for Health Amber-Jade Sanderson declared the current system “not fit for purpose”.
She says a public consultation on abortion changes from 2022, which included public votes on key measures, received almost 20,000 responses late last year.
The results backed scrapping the current rule that two doctors must be involved in abortion decisions, taking abortion out of the criminal code and requiring conscientious objectors to refer patients to doctors who would provide abortions.
