OIA Ministry of Health - Consequences of refusing to be involved in abortions

10 February 2023

Dr Diana Sarfati,

Director General of Health,

Ministry of Health,

Wellington.

Dear Dr Sarfati,

Official Information Act – Request.

I wish to request under the Official Information Act the following information:-

• What are the professional consequences for a registered medical practitioner, a midwife, or a practice nurse who refuse to be involved in the killing of an unborn child, breaches section 14 [b] of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 by refusing to provide a woman seeking an abortion with information on “how to access the contact details of another person who is the closest provider of the service requested?”

• What are the professional consequences for a registered pharmacist who refuses to dispense a prescription for mifepristone and misoprostol to facilitate an early medical abortion and breaches section 14 [b] of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 by refusing to provide a woman seeking an abortion with information on “how to access the contact details of another person who is the closest provider of the service requested?”

Yours sincerely,

Ken Orr,

Secretary,

Right to Life