Victorian doctors who object to abortion ‘attempting to delay or deny access’

Study reveals failure of legal protections to ensure women’s access to terminations

Victorian doctors who conscientiously object to abortion are breaking the law by failing to refer women on to practitioners who will perform the procedure, leading to some women having abortions later than necessary or having the baby despite wanting a termination.

This was the finding from a study led by associate professor Louise Keogh at the University of Melbourne, who examined whether mandatory referral, introduced in Victoria during abortion law reforms in 2008, was making healthcare more accessible to women.

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Do you think the Irish citizens’ assembly on abortion was a good idea?

If you live in Ireland, tell us about the assembly and its findings – did it help resolve a complex issue, might it help with Brexit?

In 2018, Ireland voted in a referendum to legalise abortion. Irish politics had been debating this divisive and emotive issue for decades, however the Irish citizens’ assembly, which deliberated on the matter prior to the referendum, was cited as a successful process in helping people understand the complex issues.

The citizens’ assembly was established in 2016 by parliament and its purpose was to deliberate on a number of issues, including the eighth amendment that outlawed abortion. The 99 citizen members of the assembly were selected to be electorally representative and included those in favour of the change, those against and those undecideds. Over the course of five weekends, between the end of 2016 and early 2017, the assembly listened to people on all sides of the abortion debate, including experts and those sharing their personal experiences.

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On trial: El Salvador’s abortion ban

The shocking case of Imelda Cortez has put El Salvador’s strict abortion laws in the spotlight. Human rights lawyer Paula Avila-Guillen and reporter Nina Lakhani describe how a surprise verdict has given fresh hope to women in El Salvador. Plus, in opinion, Randeep Ramesh on the Guardian’s call for a citizens’ assembly to break the Brexit deadlock

El Salvador is one of 26 countries with a total ban on abortion, and the law is applied brutally. It’s not uncommon for women who have a miscarriage or a stillbirth to be charged with murder or, in the shocking case of Imelda Cortez, attempted murder.

Her case, and the ultimate acquittal of all charges against her, has given hope to women in El Salvador. Reporter Nina Lakhani and human rights lawyer Paula Avila-Guillen describe how Imelda Cortez came to be charged with the attempted murder of her child.

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Activists protest against Ireland’s new abortion services

Pro-choice groups condemn picket of clinic as health service warns of fake websites

Anti-abortion activists have struck back against Ireland’s introduction of abortion services by picketing a clinic and by launching potentially misleading websites that mimic the state’s support service for unplanned pregnancies.

A group holding placards protested outside a doctor’s office in Galway on Thursday in an effort to deter women from seeking abortion pills just three days after abortion services became legal.

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Me Too movement reacts angrily to Brett Kavanaugh’s controversial confirmation

Members of the Me Too movement voiced outrage after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed for the US's top court amid an allegation of sexual assault and fears over abortion rights. President Donald Trump's controversial Supreme Court pick was approved by senators on Saturday in highly unusual scenes where protesters heckled from the Senate's public gallery as politicians cast votes.

Democratic Senator Suggests Kavanaugh Nomination Will Result in Women Being Put in Jail for Abortion

On the eve of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation vote, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy told Chris Matthews on MSNBC a year from now, "Brett Kavanaugh will be the deciding vote to criminalize abortion." While discussing Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins' decision to vote yes on Judge Kavanaugh, Murphy said, "I have a great amount of respect for Senator Collins, but I just think she is going to be sorely disappointed when a year from now Brett Kavanaugh writes the decision overturning Roe v.

Rapist goes on the run after leaping out of dock and fleeing court

'Boof and 'Devil's Triangle WERE sexual terms': Kavanaugh's freshman year roommate says the SCOTUS nominee lied under oath to senators about excessive drinking and his yearbook entries FBI report does NOT corroborate Christine Blasey Ford's claims that she was sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh, White House sources say as Trump is briefed and a SINGLE copy is handed to all 100 senators to share and read in a secure room More than 1,200 law professors sign letter urging the Senate to reject Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation because he 'did not display the judicial temperament' required for the Supreme Court Senators will see FBI's Kavanaugh report from 8am, but will NOT be allowed to discuss the contents, as Democrats claim bureau's background check ALREADY included warnings about allegations of sexual misconduct Lectures on sexual impropriety from a Clinton? CBS fails to ask Chelsea once ... (more)

This is not politics as usual — it is political pyromania

One of the dubious advantages of a Supreme Court nomination battle is how it brings into the open some of the vicious, ideological arguments that are normally hidden by shame and discretion. That has certainly been true on the right, with some figures demonstrating a callousness toward the charge of attempted rape that would presumably change if their own children were even remotely threatened.

In this Sept. 6, 2018 photo, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh…

Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, appears at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, appears at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill.

Panelists: Hubbell a – game changer’ for women’s health

Erin Davison-Rippey of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, at left, Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood's political action committee, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, and Jill June, former leader of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, participate in a roundtable discussion of women's health-care issues ... (more)