In Spain, the government is working on a new law to include abortion rights in the Spanish Constitution. As part of this effort, the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has asked regional governments to create lists of doctors who refuse to perform abortions, known as “conscientious objectors.” He has given them three months to do this, following a law approved in December 2024.
While most regions are cooperating, the President of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has expressed concerns. She believes that the number of abortions in 2024, which reached 106,000, reflects a societal failure. Ayuso argues that no one should be punished for choosing to have an abortion or for refusing to perform one. She feels that forcing or shaming healthcare professionals for their choices is not in line with democratic values.
The Health Minister, Mónica García, has tried to ease fears by stating that the purpose of the list is not to penalize doctors who object but to ensure that those who are willing to perform abortions can do so in public healthcare settings. However, many doctors are worried that these lists could lead to discrimination against them. Manuel Martínez-Sellés, the president of the Madrid Medical Association, finds it hard to believe that the government’s intentions are purely organizational. He points out that this is the first time such lists have been requested and questions their purpose. He suggests that it would make more sense to ask for lists of doctors who are willing to perform abortions instead.
Overall, the situation raises important questions about the rights of doctors and patients in the context of abortion in Spain.
This article has been translated and simplified by artificial intelligence from a French article “Espagne : l’Exécutif réclame la liste des médecins refusant de pratiquer des IVG”
It may therefore contain errors. The French version is the reference version..