Health practitioners sue Crown over abortion legislation

8 March 2021

A new requirement in the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 requires a practitioner who objects to abortion to refer the patient to a doctor who can help them.

The Health Professionals' Alliance is fighting for a declaration that the new law interferes with the Bill of Rights Act.

Continued: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/437917/health-practioners-sue-crown-over-abortion-legislation


New Zealand – Doctors to fight new abortion law

Doctors to fight new abortion law
Group opposes any moves that erode rights in dealing with patients seeking terminations, writes Claire Trevett.

3 Dec, 2018
By: Claire Trevett, Deputy political editor, NZ Herald

A group of doctors opposed to abortion say they will fight any moves in looming reforms to erode their rights to refuse to deal with patients wanting abortions. The issue of referring patients seeking abortions to another doctor has drawn opposition from the group.

Justice Minister Andrew Little says he agrees with a Law Commission proposal for doctors who are "conscientious objectors" to abortion to be made to directly refer a patient on to another doctor who they know will provide the service.

Continued: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12167498