Uruguayan Feminists Alarmed by Doctors' Conscience

Uruguayan Feminist Organization Enraged by Obstacles to Abortion on Demand

The weekly Busqueda appearing in Montevideo published a long article over the vociferous protests of the feminist organization MYSU (Mujeres y Salud en Uruguay/Women and Health in Uruguay) against the obstacles that persist three years after the law liberalizing abortions was passed.

The most serious obstacle to obtaining abortion on demand is the freedom of Uruguayan physicians to refuse to perform the procedure under the “conscientious objector” statute. The law itself was passed as a result of the tenacious militancy of the-above named NGO, which continues to monitor its application zealously all over the country and to quantify the results (grim task but feminists do it valiantly).

The current alarm they raise has to do with the large number of physicians who declare themselves conscientious objectors. But why not let the very articulate Jewish director of MYSU, Lilian Abracinskas, explain it in her own words (the emphasis in bold face in the text and the explanatory comments in italics in brackets are mine, as is the translation from Spanish):

“Many women cannot access the services they are entitled to because of the alarming number of physicians who raise conscientious objections, much larger than the number reported by the Ministry of Health.” [Apparently when polled by the Ministry fewer physicians said they would refuse to perform abortions. And obviously anything to do with a conscience is alarming.]

“Furthermore, those who initially put their shoulders to the task [good phrase, Abracinskas], now show symptoms of burn out and say they are disgusted and will not continue [imagine that!]. There is also a continuing stigma that oppresses women who have abortions, and which has not been eradicated.” [More ‘education’ is needed …]

“The law must be revised. Despite the fact that Uruguay is one of the most advanced countries in the region in having passed this law, the reality is that the text of the law is self-contradictory: on the one hand it gives the women the right to make decisions over their own bodies and on the other it does not treat them like adults capable of making such decisions alone. Why do a gynecologist, a social worker and a psychologist have the right to tell a woman about their criteria for making the decision? We are adults and can make our own decisions.”

“According to the information collected by MYSU, there are hospitals and clinics in the farther provinces that do not even have the professional resources to perform abortions. This contradicts the spirit and letter of the law guaranteeing universal access to abortions. Thus, the law as it stands now hurts the women who are most vulnerable” [i.e., those in the rural environment and/or poor].

“Nevertheless, the biggest obstacle remains the problem of the physicians who declare themselves conscientious objectors and refuse to perform abortions. It is a barrier against the application of the law.” [A conscience is a barrier indeed…]

“MYSU sees as a high priority the need to revise and control the acceptable reasons for medical professionals to exercise their conscientious objectors rights.” [i.e., one’s conscience needs to be first approved by cultural marxists to be allowed to express itself.] “If this is not done soon we can arrive at a situation of complete collapse of these services in places where  all the physicians are conscientious objectors.”

“The alarming percentage of objectors is, according to the information collected by MYSU, much higher than the national average of 30% reported by the Ministry of Health. In two departments (Rio Negro and Soriano), the percentage reaches 100%.”

“There is a moral and prejudice factor that operates here, which creates these objections and also contributes to stigmatize the practice of pregnancy interruptions.” [Shame on those bigots, is, I guess, the sentiment here.] Disinformation and prejudice are at the bottom of this.”

So many countries, so little time! A cultural marxist’s work is never done.