Judge to rule over challenge by midwives

A JUDGE reserved her decision yesterday in a legal challenge brought by two Catholic midwives who object to supervising nursing staff taking part in abortions.

Lady Smith thanked counsel in the judicial review action which she said involved “difficult and sensitive issues”, and will give a ruling at a later date, yet to be fixed.

Mary Doogan, 57, and Concepta Wood, 51, are seeking a ruling that their right to conscientious objection to taking part in treatment for “termination of pregnancy and feticide” under the 1967 Abortion Act extends to refusing to delegate, supervise and support staff involved in the work.

They also maintain that the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to refuse to recognise their right to conscientious objection on the issue violates their human rights.