The majority of anaesthetists employed by General Hospital of Samos Agios Panteleimonas announced their decision to abstain from pregnancy termination procedures. In a joint statement, they notified the hospital’s management that they refused to participate and administer anaesthesia for abortions, unless there is an underlying medical condition affecting the child or where the abortion is immediately necessary to prevent grave injury to the physical health of the pregnant woman.

The anaesthetists are referring to paragraph 31 of Code of Ethics of Medicine (Law 3418/2005) stating that “the doctor can abstain from taking part in the procedure of terminating a pregnancy, if it is against their personal code of ethics, unless there is unavoidable risk for the pregnant woman’s life or danger of long-term damage to her health”.

The medical team refuses to participate in “child destruction practices” even though abortions were being carried out without any issues at the hospital, always after a signed testimony of consent from the pregnant woman, or her parents in the case of underage pregnancy. According to an ERT report, Agios Panteleimonas’ managing board does not have the authority to force its obstetricians, midwifes, and anaesthetists to take part in an abortion. As a result, women on the island who decide to end a pregnancy now need to travel to Athens.