A ban on abortion procedures in a Catholic-run hospital was upheld by a German court on Friday, as 2,000 people joined a protest against the measure, reported Xinhua.
The Hamm Labour Court in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia rejected a complaint by doctor Joachim Volz against regulations issued by his new employer, Klinikum Lippstadt-Christian Hospital, following a merger.
Judge Klaus Griese said the hospital operator was "authorized" to "make these specifications within the scope of the right to issue regulations."
Abortion is technically illegal in Germany, but it is not punishable by law during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy after counselling. There are exceptions in cases of medical necessity, malformation of the foetus and rape.
Volz, a gynaecologist, performed medically indicated abortions during his 13 years as head physician at the Protestant Hospital in Lippstadt.
However, after the merger, he was forbidden to do so by the new Catholic management in cases of severe foetal malformations.
The ban has been in force since February and also covers his private practice in Bielefeld.
Exceptions are only to be made if "the life and limb of the pregnant woman are in danger."
In the courtroom, Volz said that the new hospital management had left him no room for manoeuvre, even in cases of serious damage – such as an unborn child without a skullcap, for which he was not allowed to perform an abortion.
In serious emergency situations, a woman must have the freedom to decide for herself, he argued.
On the sidelines of Thursday's protest, Volz told dpa that he does not see the dispute as an isolated incident.
Wherever Catholic organizations are involved in politically motivated mergers of hospitals, it is to be feared that abortions are no longer offered, the gynaecologist warned.
Volz said he is concerned women will be marginalized and stigmatized, and could even resort to going abroad to secure an abortion.
The hospital's managing director, Hauke Schild, said that an employer is allowed to decide what their company does. "That is entrepreneurial freedom."
After the decision, Volz said he was "almost certain" that he would appeal the ruling.
Thousands join protest
Some 2,000 demonstrators joined a protest organized by Volz and Green politician Sarah Gonschorek ahead of the court's decision on Friday.
Volz said: "From the point of view of the Catholic sponsor, every termination of a pregnancy is murder. Therefore, my team and I would be murderers."
Demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "Heaven, hell, hypocrisy! Church, set women free."
Police said the protest was carried out peacefully, with only five people joining a counterdemonstration.
(By Yuriko Wahl-Immel and Rabea Gruber)
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
