Doctors Threaten To Quit Over Abortion Drug

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) may end up losing as many as over 200 doctors, over the stance of the group with regard to the RU486 which induces abortion. The Catholic doctors who are from Queensland are of the view that the anti-abortion Health Minister Tony Abbott should not be deprived of his powers when it comes to deciding upon individual applications made by women in Australia to access the drug.

The AMA on the other hand is calling for lifting the ban on RU486, and insists that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) should take control over the drug. The protesting doctors belong to the Guild of St Luke. Two medical practitioners are reported to have already resigned from the AMA over the issue. The Parliamentarians and Senators of the country are expected to vote on the issue in February 2006.