Christian Conscientious Objectors to Morning-After-Pill Barred from Sexual Health Care Diploma
British doctors and nurses who refuse to dispense the morning-after pill on grounds of conscience will be unable to receive a specialist diploma in sexual health care. Guidance issued by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare states that medical professionals who, for religious reasons, refuse to hand out "emergency" contraception cannot receive the qualification. The diploma is considered to represent the "gold standard" of sexual health care training.
The guidelines read:„Failure to complete the syllabus renders candidates ineligible for the award of a FSRH Diploma.”
“Doctors who hold moral or religious reservations about any contraceptive methods will be unable to fulfil the syllabus for the membership … or specialty training.
“This will render them ineligible for the award of the examination or completion of training certificates.”
By contrast, those who refuse to perform abortions on grounds of conscience enjoy special legal protection.
Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10794194/Doctors-who-oppose-morning-after-pill-on-conscience-grounds-face-qualifications-bar.html
http://www.lozierinstitute.org/royal-college-punishes-doctors-conscience/
http://stlouisreview.com/article/2014-04-30/new-uk-guidance-may
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: http://www.fsrh.org/