Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• - Scope could be widened beyond doctors to include other staff (technical, management, laboratory, and ancillary staff) and to cover counselling and other activities in a medical setting.
• - A set of duties and safeguards for objectors is proposed: objectors may need to inform patients, inform and consult employers or colleagues, and actively refer or arrange alternatives for services like reproductive medicine, abortion, contraception, and related care.
• - Exemptions and limitations are debated: potential exclusions for certain IVF activities, embryo research, and cases involving imminent death or life-saving treatment; debates also touch on whether absence of objection can be an occupational requirement for some roles.
• - Stronger protections for patients’ access to legal treatments are proposed: amendments aim to ensure access to abortion under the Abortion Act 1967 and to treatments allowed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, even where objectors exist.
• - Process and accountability measures are debated: suggestions include requiring objectors to declare concerns when applying for posts, notifying licensing bodies and employers, and providing clear referrals to appropriate subsequent care.
• - The language and scope of the bill are being refined: amendments move from “medical practitioner” to “person” and from “participating” to “hands-on capacity,” with several changes intended to clarify what counts as participating in an activity.
• - Overall, the debates reflect a balancing act between protecting conscientious objection and safeguarding patient access to legal medical services.

Progress

The bill is in Committee stage in the House of Lords. A total of 35 amendments have been tabled; one amendment to Clause 1 was withdrawn, and many others propose substantial policy changes. No final decisions have been recorded here, so the focus is on shaping the bill’s scope and safeguards before progressing further.