On Paper, Italy Allows Abortions, but Few Doctors Will Perform Them

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ASCOLI PICENO, Italy — After Benedetta, 35, found out 11 weeks into her pregnancy that the baby she wanted “with all myself” had extremely serious genetic problems, she made a painful decision, and asked her longtime gynecologist for an abortion.

Her doctor’s refusal — she said she was a conscientious objector to Italy’s law that makes abortion legal up to 90 days — set off a desperate scramble to find a doctor who would help her.

At one hospital, doctors advised her to get a psychiatrist’s note saying she had threatened to kill herself, so that she could extend the legal time limit. At another, a doctor suggested that she just wait.

“ ‘The fetus is incompatible with life; you will very likely lose it anyway past the 20th week’ — that’s what this doctor told me,” Benedetta said, still angry and incredulous. She asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy. “To expect a woman to see her belly growing, to raise a doomed life, is inhumane.”

“I felt like a container, not a human being,” she added.

After a fight that feminists in Italy still consider a signal achievement, abortion within 90 days of pregnancy — and later for women in mental or physical danger, or in cases of serious fetal pathologies — has been legal in this country for over three decades.

But that does not mean that finding a doctor to perform one is easy. Seventy percent of gynecologists — up to 83 percent in some conservative southern regions — are conscientious objectors to the law, and do not perform abortions for religious or personal reasons in a country that remains, culturally at least, overwhelmingly Catholic.

It is a circumstance that has alarmed some women’s health experts, who say that the challenges will grow only more severe in the years ahead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/world/europe/on-paper-italy-allows-abortions-but-few-doctors-will-perform-them.html?ref=world

[bryant.coleman]

I don't understand the mindset in these fanatic Catholic nations such as Italy, Poland and Brazil. They claim that they follow the Catholic principles. But on the other hand, these countries have some of the lowest birth rates in Europe. For example, in Poland, the women are having just 1.33 children each, compared to 1.75 in the neighboring Belarus (the average wages in Poland is many times of that in Belarus).

[coinzat]

I do not say this news as a strange thing. because I believe that abortion is killing an innocent soul and should not be performed except in the extreme conditions like there is dangerous on the mother. so those doctors who refuse to operate abortion  are saving lives in my opinion

[bizerinm]

Today it's hardly to believe that with all pills, condoms and so on woman can be pregnant without planing it. Abortion should be necessary in cases like the baby has serious genetic problems and won't be normal person.

[jak1]

In Italy divorce wasn't allowed very long time..but question is ok if doctor won't done the abortion woman than will go to some illegal doctors and can be infected, later maybe never can be pregnant..better that is allowed to do it legally instead going to suspicious doctors in illegal ordinations

[craked5]

I don't understand the mindset in these fanatic Catholic nations such as Italy, Poland and Brazil. They claim that they follow the Catholic principles. But on the other hand, these countries have some of the lowest birth rates in Europe. For example, in Poland, the women are having just 1.33 children each, compared to 1.75 in the neighboring Belarus (the average wages in Poland is many times of that in Belarus).

Those countries have also incredible social problem, but they're aware of it.
Would you want to give birth in a country with incredibly high unemployment, pollution, crime, poor future perspective and else?

[bizerinm]

And why high standard stable countries like those in Scandinavia don't have more children? Because having a child is very expensive..and you working all day and overtime won't have time to be enough with them...in muslim countries every woman has at least 5 kids..but they have one on every 1 year so if one is dead no worry next year you ll have another

[craked5]

Not a great news. It's the case in most countries.

Problem is abortion is legalized and is considered as a right, but on the other hand there is no sanction for doctors refusing to do it.

So it all depends on the doctors. And they're not all confident/intelligent enough to accept.

[alani123]

This to me is hust another example that the mere existance of a law won't help much if it's role is to tackle cultural norms. But then again, the Sensationalization of this nonissue by American media isn't surprising. In the end of the day, most European countries have a functioning health care system. If an abortion is needed for medical reasons it's likely to be covered. Else, in a country with the size of Italy searching for a doctor able to perform one isn't that hard.

[bizerinm]

Doctors knows that in almost all cases woman who don't want a child will do abortion. If they don't want to do it, she will find a way  ilegaly to do it..

[craked5]

This to me is hust another example that the mere existance of a law won't help much if it's role is to tackle cultural norms. But then again, the Sensationalization of this nonissue by American media isn't surprising. In the end of the day, most European countries have a functioning health care system. If an abortion is needed for medical reasons it's likely to be covered. Else, in a country with the size of Italy searching for a doctor able to perform one isn't that hard.

I slightly disagree.

Problem is not the weakness of the law. Problem is that no sanction have been voted for people who don't respect this law!
It means doctor do as they want, they don't HAVE to do it.

[BADecker]

The devil already has Italy. More kids are more followers for the devil.

In America, most of the kids become Christian, or at least God-fearing. This is against the devil, so he promotes as many abortions as he can.

[Ernstew]

If something is wrong with the baby,some genetic disease than abortion should be performed immediately..everything should be put in law and to see rights and obligation of doctors

[BADecker]

If something is wrong with the baby,some genetic disease than abortion should be performed immediately..everything should be put in law and to see rights and obligation of doctors

Poor baby.

Baby sick in mommy tummy. Baby try fight sickness. Then doctor abort baby. Baby no can fight doctor.

Poor baby.

[youdamushi]

If something is wrong with the baby,some genetic disease than abortion should be performed immediately..everything should be put in law and to see rights and obligation of doctors

Poor baby.

Baby sick in mommy tummy. Baby try fight sickness. Then doctor abort baby. Baby no can fight doctor.

Poor baby.

You keep saying baby. But it's not a baby, it's a foetus.
No feeling, no finished brain (at all). No pain (cause no nerves).
It's not a baby that is aborted. Just some meat.

[Ernstew]

woman should prevent unwanted pregnance using pills, and protect themselves..then no abortion needed. in medical reason abortion no doctor should deny

[youdamushi]

woman should prevent unwanted pregnance using pills, and protect themselves..then no abortion needed. in medical reason abortion no doctor should deny

Yeah indeed! All women faults! Cause pills and protection are 100% effective, no mistake can de done

Rather than buying 3€ pills they all prefer go through operation at 500€! Those lazy bitches!

[saddampbuh]

birthrate far below replacement level, meanwhile replacing themselves with africans and muslims

[youdamushi]

birthrate far below replacement level, meanwhile replacing themselves with africans and muslims

Cause unwanted children in families that can't afford them is the solution?

[saddampbuh]

Cause unwanted children in families that can't afford them is the solution?

they cant afford them because the jobs, welfare and housing are going to paki/nigger immigrants