Only four countries in Europe offer gynecology degrees without requiring abortion

Madrid, Spain, Jun 28, 2007 / 10:12 am

The president of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, Dr. Jose Maria Simon, said this week med students can obtain gynecology degrees without having to perform abortions in four countries in Europe—Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece.

While participating last week in a conference for Catholic gynecologists in Zagreb, Simon told Europa Press that in Spain, “although it is difficult, it is still possible to find a place that accepts residents who don’t practice abortions.”  That is not the case in France, Switzerland, Germany or Austria, where the “normal” thing is for students to be required to practice abortions.  “Things are very bad in Europe,” he insisted.

On the other hand, Simon said participants at the conference concluded that one of the most important priorities for gynecologists should be the care for pregnant women in poor countries, as well as promoting “state assistance” in the developed countries to encourage women not to have abortions.

“Pregnant women in Spain receive practically no financial help.  If a pregnant immigrant who is alone shows up at a clinic she gets asked practically nothing and she is given a pass to have an abortion.  This happens and happens often,” he said.

On the other hand, Simon noted that there are more and more women who want to be seen by a doctor who follows the Magisterium of the Church, “even if they do not agree with it 100%.”  He pointed to a study that shows that in the United States, there are 10 times more women who would go to such a gynecologist but who can’t because they are hard to find.

He added that the same thing happens with people looking for doctors in other fields, such as psychiatry or care for the terminally ill.  “Between the doctor and the patient there may be a verbal or a non-verbal contract but people want to know what the doctor will do in that case, what kind of ethics he will apply,” Simon said.