Midwives take anti-abortion fight to court
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- Published on Monday, 23 January 2012 09:56
Two Catholic midwives have taken a health board to court, arguing that being required to supervise staff involved in abortions is a violation of their human rights.
Mary Doogan, 57, and Concepta Wood, 51, claim doing so at work would make them "accomplices in and culpable for" the termination of a pregnancy, an act which they consider "a grave offence against human life".
The pair, both practising Catholics from Glasgow, believe involvement in the abortion process at any stage is wrongful and an offence against God.
They have taken their case against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The midwives say that, as conscientious objectors, they are entitled to refuse to delegate, supervise and support staff taking part in abortions or providing care to patients during the process.
Health bosses insist they have acted lawfully and that they recognise the midwives' rights under the 1967 Abortion Act.
The women are midwifery sisters at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and both have been employed by the health board and its predecessor for more than 20 years.
