Abstract
Traditionally, the role of midwives has been to be with women throughout the pregnancy continuum, from conception until the end of the postnatal period. Midwives, however, have been named as key providers of abortion services. While freedom of conscience is legally protected within Europe, discrepancies exist between midwifery and conscientious objection to abortion-related services. Midwives are largely ignored within the academic discussion despite the care and support they give to women undergoing abortions. Those discrepancies led to the aim of this article to address this issue by discussing some of the key ethical and legal concepts that are relevant to midwives’ role in the provision of abortion services.This article shows that the decision to provide or object to abortion services remains ethically very complex because arguments exist both for and against its provision. Being with women can be interpreted differently and individual situations of care are multifaceted. Conscientious objection to abortion services is a highly contentious issue that has an overall importance to midwives. Noting that decisions are individual, may change or may be situationally dependant; a definitive position of midwives for or against conscientious objection cannot be assumed.Respecting conscience and acknowledging that there are various arguments for and against conscientious objection promotes widespread understanding. It accommodates both the opportunity for midwives to object on conscience grounds to the provision of abortion services and respect women’s autonomy so that mutual agreement may be reached on issues that may have far reaching consequences.
Highlights
The ethical issue of conscientious objection has been in existence for over a century, first coming to prominence in a 19th-century UK parliamentary debate concerning compulsory vaccination, where its naming was hotly challenged but included in the law.[1]
The concept of conscience and conscientious objection is highly relevant within pluralistic societies and ethically complex situations, such as those existing in health care.[20]
In Germany, for example, some midwives have recently stated they have no choice because they feel under pressure to provide abortion services as this has been delineated as a clear midwifery task.[16]
Summary
The ethical issue of conscientious objection has been in existence for over a century, first coming to prominence in a 19th-century UK parliamentary debate concerning compulsory vaccination, where its naming was hotly challenged but included in the law.[1]. A major subject of debate is that around the provision of abortion services and the related care of the women concerned This debate is expanding internationally with both the provision of the service and health professionals’ rights to make an objection to its provision being highly contentious issues.[2,3] Conscientious objection to providing abortion services describes the situation when health-care professionals decline to participate in the abortion process on conscience grounds.[4] Many articles both for and against conscientious objection have been published in the academic literature.[2] these have mainly been restricted to articles concerning the medical or legal professions with little attention being given to others such as midwives. The role of the midwife is discussed first in order to contextualise the discussion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
