Row brews over Italian abortion proposals
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
Ultra-Catholic politicians in Italy have clashed with men and women across the political spectrum after a member of Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party suggested the country's cash strapped health service could save money by allowing women only one free abortion, after which they should be made to pay.
Senator Antonio Gentile's proposal was initially regarded as outlandish and unlikely to gain ground. But then the health minister, Girolamo Sirchia, told the country's biggest selling daily paper, Corriere della Sera, that "abortion is, in substance, murder" and suggested that Italy's existing abortion law should be "updated" to discourage women from having abortions.
Dr Sirchia, who is a transplant surgeon and a member of a small ultra-Catholic movement within the government coalition called Communion and Liberation, agreed with Mr Gentile's efforts to "correct a distortion of abortion used as birth control"—particularly by around 30 000 immigrant women, many of whom work as prostitutes in Italy, according to Dr Sirchia. But he opposed the idea of obliging women to pay up to 3000 (￡2000; $3700) for each abortion after their first.
Abortion is murder, says Italy's health minister, Dr Girolamo Sirchia
Credit: EPA/PA
Abortion in the first three months of pregnancy has been legal in Italy since 1978. The procedure is free through Italy's public health service.
Since the law was passed—amid violent protest from the Vatican, which forced a referendum but was then voted down—the abortion debate has often flared but has rarely created such controversy as at present. Mr Gentile's and Dr Sirchia's comments stirred public outrage and disbelief, embarrassment among coalition members, and calls from opposition politicians for Dr Sirchia's resignation.
"More and more we are not Europeans, we are not Italians. We are citizens of the Vatican," said Italian MEP Emma Bonino, former European commissioner for humanitarian affairs.
"Every day we wake up and find there is something new designed to take away women's right to choose," said Mrs Bonino. The radical politician pointed out that in Italy the "abortion pill," mifepristone, is not on sale, the emergency contraceptive pill is not available over the counter, and there are proposals to give chemists the right to refuse to fill prescriptions for the emergency pill.
Mrs Bonino criticised the health minister for launching a direct personal attack on a law that it is his job to defend.
"It seems clear to me that he wants to change the law," she said. "But what annoys me the most is that Italian women are being passed off as having a screw loose or not being serious. They way these men speak, it appears as if women take these difficult life decisions like a walk in the park."(Sophie Arie)
Senator Antonio Gentile's proposal was initially regarded as outlandish and unlikely to gain ground. But then the health minister, Girolamo Sirchia, told the country's biggest selling daily paper, Corriere della Sera, that "abortion is, in substance, murder" and suggested that Italy's existing abortion law should be "updated" to discourage women from having abortions.
Dr Sirchia, who is a transplant surgeon and a member of a small ultra-Catholic movement within the government coalition called Communion and Liberation, agreed with Mr Gentile's efforts to "correct a distortion of abortion used as birth control"—particularly by around 30 000 immigrant women, many of whom work as prostitutes in Italy, according to Dr Sirchia. But he opposed the idea of obliging women to pay up to 3000 (￡2000; $3700) for each abortion after their first.
Abortion is murder, says Italy's health minister, Dr Girolamo Sirchia
Credit: EPA/PA
Abortion in the first three months of pregnancy has been legal in Italy since 1978. The procedure is free through Italy's public health service.
Since the law was passed—amid violent protest from the Vatican, which forced a referendum but was then voted down—the abortion debate has often flared but has rarely created such controversy as at present. Mr Gentile's and Dr Sirchia's comments stirred public outrage and disbelief, embarrassment among coalition members, and calls from opposition politicians for Dr Sirchia's resignation.
"More and more we are not Europeans, we are not Italians. We are citizens of the Vatican," said Italian MEP Emma Bonino, former European commissioner for humanitarian affairs.
"Every day we wake up and find there is something new designed to take away women's right to choose," said Mrs Bonino. The radical politician pointed out that in Italy the "abortion pill," mifepristone, is not on sale, the emergency contraceptive pill is not available over the counter, and there are proposals to give chemists the right to refuse to fill prescriptions for the emergency pill.
Mrs Bonino criticised the health minister for launching a direct personal attack on a law that it is his job to defend.
"It seems clear to me that he wants to change the law," she said. "But what annoys me the most is that Italian women are being passed off as having a screw loose or not being serious. They way these men speak, it appears as if women take these difficult life decisions like a walk in the park."(Sophie Arie)