Italy passes law allowing pro-life groups access to abortion clinics

euronews (in English)

Opponents of the amendment question the wisdom of allowing medically unqualified groups access to women considering an abortion but the government counters the move is designed so prospective patients can be better informed.

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00:00Italy's Senate has passed an amendment which allows anti-abortion groups access to women

00:07considering the procedure in public clinics.

00:10The government says the amendment fulfills the original intent of the 1978 law legalizing

00:16abortion, which includes provisions to prevent the procedure.

00:21Opponents have questioned the wisdom of allowing medically unqualified groups access to clinics.

00:28This is already happening in some regions.

00:31People who don't know what qualification they have,

00:35certainly haven't studied, haven't passed exams,

00:40to go and talk to women about topics for which the clinic is already highly qualified to deal with.

00:49Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed opposition to the bill,

00:53saying that allowing those with a pro-life message into abortion clinics

00:58was only intended to fully inform women.

01:15Under Italian law, a woman is permitted to have an abortion on request

01:19in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or later if her health or life is endangered.

01:26But access isn't always guaranteed.

01:29The law also allows health care personnel to register as conscientious objectors

01:34and refuse to perform the procedure.

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