- Introduction
- Current policies and laws
- Abuse
- Impact
- Dishonourable disobedience
- The Solution
- Conscientious commitment
- Victims of “CO”
- Victims of “CO” – Introduction
- 23 women (anonymous) – USA
- Lucia (2019) – Argentina
- Leticia (2019) – Argentina
- Chelsea (2018) – USA
- Carmela (2018) – Argentina
- Anonymous (2017) Argentina
- Dr. Ralph’s patient (2017) – USA
- Andrea (2017) – Costa Rica
- Denise (2016) – Northern Ireland
- Valentina Milluzzo † (2016) – Italy
- Ana (2014) – Spain
- Immigrant rape victim (2014) – Ireland
- Anonymous (2014) – Ireland
- Alison (2013) – USA
- Savita † (2012) – Ireland
- Paula (2012) – Spain
- Franzisca (2012) – Spain
- Aurora (2012) – Costa Rica
- Kathleen Prieskorn (2011) – USA
- Pordenone victim (2010) – Italy
- Tamesha (2010) – USA
- Valentina Magnanti (2010) – Italy
- Mindy (2009) – USA
- Laura (2008) – Italy
- Ana (2007) – Costa Rica
- Irena (2007) – Spain
- L.C. (2007) – Peru
- X (2007) – Colombia
- Ana María † (2006) – Argentina
- LMR (2006) – Argentina
- Ms B † (2004) – New Zealand
- Edyta † (2004) – Poland
- Meghan (2004) – USA
- Severina (2004) – Brazil
- Rosa (2003) – Nicaragua
- R.R. (2003) – Poland
- K.L. (2001) – Peru
- Alicja (2000) – Poland
- Paulina (2000) – Mexico
- Kathleen Hutchins (1998) – USA
- Lauren (1996) – USA
- Susan (1995) – USA
- Sophie (1994) – USA
- Heidi (late 1980’s) – USA
- Publications
- (Nov 2020) How to Reduce or Eliminate “Conscientious Objection” in Reproductive Health Care
- (Dec 2020) What International Human Rights Groups and Agreements, and Global Health Orgs, Say About “Conscientious Objection” in Healthcare
- (Aug 2018) Lessons learnt from the past: “Conscientious objection” to abortion in Chile will lead to widespread disobedience of the new law
- (July 2018) Expert group denounces the refusal to treat under ‘conscientious objection’
- (April 2018) Letter to the Editor: The FSRH guideline on conscientious objection disrespects patient rights and endangers their health
- (Sept 2017) Letter to the Editor: Refusal to Treat Patients Does Not Work in Any Country—Even If Misleadingly Labelled “Conscientious Objection”
- (Sept 2017) “Conscientious Objection” Clause in 1967 Abortion Act is Obsolete
- (July 2017) There Is No Defense for ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Reproductive Health Care
- (June 2017) “Conscientious objection” kills women
- (Nov 2016) The dishonourable disobedience of not providing abortion
- (Feb 2016) Yes We Can! Successful Examples of Disallowing ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Reproductive Healthcare
- (Oct 2015) “Conscientious Objection” in Reproductive Healthcare is Immoral and Should Be Abolished
- (April 2015) Christian doctors angry they can no longer abandon their patients
- (Dec 2014) ‘Dishonourable Disobedience’: Why Refusal to Treat in Reproductive Healthcare Is Not Conscientious Objection.
- (Aug 2014) Doctors do not have the right to discriminate and deny basic healthcare
- (July 2014) The CO debate: ‘Conscientious Objection’ is still dishonourable disobedience
- (May 2014) Why We Need to Ban ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Reproductive Healthcare
- (Aug 2013) Conscientious objection and induced abortion in Europe
- Publications by Others
- News
- Links
Victims of “CO” – Introduction
Here is a collection of stories where women were refused a legal abortion and suffered serious injury or injustice as a result, including death in some cases. Doctors and hospitals are rarely punished or convicted for these wrongdoings.
Media coverage about serious consequences of the refusal to treat under CO usually only happens when a woman dies, or a woman or her family sues. Here are their stories we could find, but these must be the tip of the iceberg. We know nothing about the vast majority of refusals to treat under CO, or what happens to the victims.