Australia: Doctors warn of abortion law exodus

Julia Medew
September 30, 2008

VICTORIA could face an exodus of health professionals if the Government's proposed abortion law goes ahead in its current form, a new coalition of doctors opposed to the bill has warned.

The group of more than 100 doctors - "Doctors in Conscience Against Abortion Bill" - said some health professionals were considering early retirement or moving interstate if the state's proposed law, due to be debated in Parliament's upper house next week, is passed.

A spokesman for the group, pediatrician Brian Conway, said members were particularly concerned about the anti-conscience clause, which requires that doctors with a conscientious objection to abortion refer a woman to someone with no such objection. the rest