Courts in Finland decided in 1977 that a doctor can be fired if they refuse to perform an abortion. The last time the law was attempted to be overturned was in 2002.

In practise though, in most hospitals staff can opt out of participating in the procedure.

This doesn't happen often though - abortion isn't exactly a hot topic over there or subject of any controversy or debate.

Amazing how cultural upbringing can shape things like morals and values, isn't it?

Not really, no.


So the money that the NHS doesn't have to pay for peoples cancer treatments is being spent on abortions for people who don't know how to use a condom. Nice.

I agree that a lot more money and effort should go into educating kids and teenagers about safe sex and how important it is to use condoms.

Yeah. While we're at it, we should round up the homeless too. Spending money on those losers is a HUGE waste. Bloody spongers.


I was actually commenting on cultural perspective, not specifically the act of abortion. Please don't down-vote just because you disagree with the comment. Save down-voting for low-quality posts instead. There *is* a difference.

This is interesting. I wonder how many doctors want to opt out of perfoming this procedure due to fear of being mobbed by hate mail and messages from angry religious people, as opposed to refusing due to ethics.

Sencerd, I think that's a very naive view of women who opt for abortions. While I'm sure that observation can apply to a percentage of abortion patients, I highly doubt it applies to the majority.

Very interesting thought.


It just goes to show - terrorism *DOES* work!

I say, bully for them.
And I don't see why a doctor should be fired for not doing an abortion. I wouldn't.

I guess that comes down to whether or not something is in your job description.

If you refuse to do something that's part of your job description, you risk getting fired.

If you ran a public health clinic would you sack a doctor who refuses to treat women and black people because of his religious beliefs?

True. I guess if you don't want to perform abortions you should not work at an abortion clinic in the first place. My mistake. :)

Abortions are performed in ordinary hospitals at least in Finland and Canada. Not sure about the states but I don't see why it would be any different down there?

Not only do i agree with their stance, i also agree with the fact that they are standing up for what they believe in.

Just imagine how hard it would be to abort someones baby and live with the guilt of killing someone when you are against abortion.

its a form of peaceful protest in a way, bravo to them!

absitence should be tatught more than "safe sex"

a better protest would have been avoidig the situation as a whole

Give me one other reason a woman would have an abortion, the fact is that if you get knocked up and then decide you don't want the baby - you should have used a condom, WHATEVER the reason:
You suddenly decide you hate the father - should have used a condom
You realise you can't afford it - should have used a condom
You change your mind because of a promotion at work - should have used a condom

Having a baby is something that requires serious thought and careful consideration, having an abortion is a clear sign that you didn't think it through properly.

I can go on all day, and you may want to try exercising some judgement before calling someone's views naive, my views were concisely summarised, not naive.

does anyone at all entertain abstinence?

I agree that abstinence should be presented as the preferred method. But abstinence only education is dangerous and harmful. The fact is that many (most) teenagers still choose to have sex early, so they should be equipped with the information they need to do it safely.

we do!

not funny