New Bill Set To Make Nurses And Midwives Abortionists
The following statement is in response to the recent report entitled The Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2023, introduced by Queensland Minister for Health, Labor MP Shannon Fentiman.
Clause 22 of the Bill is seeking to insert a new section (6A) into the Termination of Pregnancy Act (2018). This clause will allow health practitioners registered in the professions of nursing, midwifery or another prescribed profession to perform a medical termination of pregnancy.
As an organisation we have four primary reasons as to why this Bill shouldn’t be passed:
PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISK TO VULNERABLE WOMEN
Peak medical authorities are seriously concerned with the safety risks that the amendments will inevitably cause. For example, Dr. Gino Pecoraro, President of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG), highlights that 5% of all medical abortions result in complications, and concludes, “Someone could die from this.” Furthermore, Dr. Nick Yim, Vice President of Australian Medical Association Queensland stated in the hearing that it is “not safe for registered nurses to administer these medicines outside of a collaborative setting with appropriate clinical oversight.”
PLACES A BURDEN ON HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS
We are extremely concerned with the burden this Bill places on nurses and midwives, many of which became health care practitioners to save life not to terminate it.
UNDEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO LAW MAKING
The fact that the report was released on 4 March and tabled for a vote on 7 March, provides evidence of Bill fast-tracking. This process allows for no time for healthy discussion or debate. This is especially critical in the light of such radical and life-threatening legislation.
MEDICAL ABORTIONS KILLS INNOCENT UNBORN CHILDREN
Most significantly, the Bill overlooks its primary victims – the unborn children who will lose their lives due to this expansion.
Alongside our own opposition to the Bill, we were joined by Australian Christian Lobby, Australian Medical Association of Queensland, Women’s Forum Australia as well as other individual submissions.
Furthermore, we are grateful for the Statements of Reservation from Committee members MP Steve Andrews (One Nation / Mirani), MP Andrew Powell (LNP / Glass House) and MP Sam O’Connor (LNP / Bonney).
Cherish Life will publish the voting records of all Queensland Members of Parliament prior to the October State Election and we are urging all Queensland MPs to reject the committee’s report and vote against this Bill.
Finally, if you are a Queensland healthcare practitioner, nurse or midwife, we would love to hear your thoughts on the Bill.
Cherish Life
PO BOX 1382, Toowong
Brisbane City, 4066
