Doctorate Theses

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Conscientious Objection in Medical Practice: A Content Analysis of the Victorian Parliamentary Discussions Establishing the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008
(2024-05) Torres, Eric Manuel
This thesis explores Victoria’s Abortion Law Reform Act (ALRA) 2008 as it relates to health practitioners exercising conscientious objection to induced abortion. In examining the moral nature of abortion and what constitutes a valid conscientious objection, this thesis argues that the ALRA undermines the right of medical practitioners to uphold a conscientious objection to partaking in an induced abortion. Through a content analysis of the parliamentary debate that established the ALRA, this research identifies the dominant ethical opinions underpinning this legislation in order to understand and explain the reasons for why this law treats conscientious objection the way it does.