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Conscientious objection to referrals
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  • Published on: 22 March 2019
    Irish pharmacists and conscientious objection

    In the footnote to his article Dr Finegan makes reference to the debate in Ireland over conscientious objection in the context of any legislation tabled pursuant to the abortion referendum in 2018. Dr Finegan intended his counter-arguments to apply to GPs and other healthcare professionals who he rightly states are significantly part of a public health service.

    As an Irish pharmacist I wish to draw attention to the lack of provision for conscientious objection for pharmacists in the final Health (Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018. In Ireland only doctors and nurses have the protection of their right to conscientious objection in the legislation. Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are excluded.

    My human right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief is not provided for or protected in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018. Conscientious objection is a right derived from the right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief.

    There was no pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill and the human rights implications for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals do not appear to have been considered.

    Conscientious objection is not provided explicitly in the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) , Code of Conduct for Pharmacists (2009). There is no mention of freedom of conscience, religion and belief and/or conscientious objection. There was no explicit mention of freedom of conscience, religi...

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    Conflict of Interest:
    None declared.