Lords examines Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill
26 March 2018
The Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill began its committee stage, the first chance for line by line scrutiny, in the Lords on Friday 23 March.
This is a private member's bill. A private member's bill is a type of public bill (that affects the public). Private members' bills must go through the same set of procedures as other public bills.
- Catch up on Parliament TV
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript
- Bills and legislation: Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill
- Lords Library briefing - Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages
- What is committee stage?
This bill would clarify the extent to which a medical practitioner with a conscientious objection may refrain from participating in certain medical activities.
Members discussed a change to the bill which would:
- extend conscientious objection to all persons, rather than specify only medical practitioners
- limit conscientious objection to just 'hands-on' involvement in a medical procedure, rather than in other capacities (e.g. administrative)
A second day of committee stage is yet be scheduled.
Second reading
The Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill had its second reading, the key debate on the draft law's purpose and principles, on 26 January 2018.
Lords news: Private member's bills January 2018