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Social & Moral Issues |
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Social & Moral Issues |
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NURSES ANGRY AT ABORTION VOTE
Press
Release Reacting this afternoon, 19 August 2004, to the national assembly vote to allow nurses to perform abortions Thembi Mngomezulu, Chief Negotiator for the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa Democratic Nurses of South Africa (DENOSA) said "Nurses are angry. This is going to fuel an untenable situation. We feel politicians are making decisions for us. Nurses are the victims of a system that is failing. This will impact on the already low morale of the public service." DENOSA has previously commented negatively on the proposed bill. The majority of nurses in the organisation oppose legal abortion, but even those who supported legal abortion had problems with the bill. Major concerns included the lack of protection for conscientiously objecting nurses who were being pressured to assist with abortions against their will. The so-called "Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill" was passed this afternoon in the national assembly. It was opposed by the ACDP, UCDP, IFP, FF, ID and DA. The Democratic Alliance and Independent Democrats allowed a free vote and some of its members voted in favour of the bill. The ANC, UDM and MF supported the bill. An unusual number of Members of Parliament (115) were not present for the vote, indicating that possibly some of these were boycotting the vote because of disagreements with their own parties. The ACDP asked the government to reconsider the 1996 abortion law. The DA called for all votes to be recorded. 218 voted in favour, 52 against and 15 abstained. Key criticisms of the government raised by the speakers included: the governments not allowing a debate; infringement on the rights of conscientious objectors; the danger to women because of the downgrading of skills required to do abortions; the lack of capacity of the health service to implement the Act. The bill is not yet law and would still need to be passed by the National Council of Provinces. It was voted on without a debate in parliament. So far no majority party parliamentarian has accepted the invitation of Radio stations CapeTalk, 702, Tygerberg and Rainbow FM to debate the proposed law on air. Rainbow FM is still trying to find some to defend the law. The reward of R2000 offered by ChristianView Network for anyone who can find a ruling party parliamentarian willing to defend the law is still unclaimed. It is offered until the bill has been voted on in the National Council of Provinces. In their closing statement, the ANC said that they would promote public debate on any issue, but would not promote abuse of public debate. ChristianView Network asks the ANC to clarify what they mean by "abuse of public debate"? Or is this just an excuse not to debate a law they know their own supporters don't agree with? Contact: Thembi Mngomezulu, Chief Negotiator of the Democratic Nurses Union of South Africa, DENOSA 082 772 5417 ANC parliament media spokesperson: 021-403 2232 (Please ask them to explain why no parliamentarian is willing to defend this law in public debate and what they mean by "Bg-abuse of public debate") ================================
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