A website aimed at sharing information about doctors and other medical professionals who oppose contraception and abortion for moral or religious reasons was launched last week.
It is is called My Decision/Kei a au te Whakataunga (www.mydecision.org.nz).
It is owned by the Abortion Law Reform Association of NZ.
Last year ALRANZ condemned a group of Southland pro-lifers for trying to seek the names of their local medical professionals involved in carrying out abortions in their region.
The website lists 28 doctors, nurses, pharmacies and counsellors who object for moral or religious reasons to contraception or abortions.
My Decision spokesperson Terry Bellamak said organisers were also inviting doctors and others who “conscientiously object” to some services to list what options they do and do not offer.
“From the standpoint of consumer protection, it makes no sense to keep potential patients in the dark about their health care providers’ intentions,” Bellamak said.
“Conscientious objectors who agree can demonstrate their good faith by registering on our site.”
Alison McCulloch of ALRANZ says that they “will trust people to be fair in their submissions” to the website because “we just list the name of people who’ve been reported to us – we don’t go into details about what happened…”
Right to Life NZ vice-president Chris O’Brien said conscientious objection was a fundamental right and he felt the site’s purpose was to “name and shame”.
O’Brien said Right to Life did not make public lists of the names and practices of abortion providers.
A Tauranga counselling centre director says the website has listed her service as a place refusing to provide abortions and contraception and says it is not the case at all.
Pregnancy Choice Centre director Janice Tetley-Jones says her centre provides support to all pregnant women – regardless of what they choose when it comes to sex and pregnancy.
“This listing is so the opposite to what we’re doing.”
“It is concerning to me that people can make anonymous allegations against any pregnancy centre or medical practitioner without any acceptable standard of proof,” Tetley-Jones says.
“As in our case, we are just providing information and support to those facing a crisis pregnancy.”
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