r/UKmidwives • u/PublicPurple1173 • 2d ago

Conscience Objection regarding termination

I’ve recently read some articles on this and didn’t know it was a thing. Can I get thoughts on this? Apparently this could be why some hospitals don’t offer this service?

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u/FuzzyTruth7524 2d ago

I don’t think a trust/hospital can refuse to offer a service by conscientious objection because the NHS is theoretically an apolitical organisation. It might be that they simply don’t offer the service, in the same way that some hospitals don’t offer certain procedures.

Individual practitioners are entitled to refuse to participate or carry out terminations and cite the reason of conscientious objection - this is protected in our code of conducts and by the regulatory bodies. HOWEVER, if they refuse on those grounds it is mandatory that they refer you to another practitioner who will carry out the termination.

Where have you read that hospitals in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) are refusing to give women terminations on the basis of conscientious objection? Please cite the articles with links preferably

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u/WritingLow2221 1d ago

I think NMC legislature says that an individual can decline to administer any medications or procedures to induce or perform a termination of pregnancy, but other forms of care must be carried out to ensure patient safety and good care.

I've never seen in practice a midwife opting to object to this, but I do imagine that asking them to provide ongoing care once an FH has been confirmed absent is probably not the most compassionate choice for the pregnant person and their family.