7am When religious doctors refuse healthcare
Jan 5, 2026
Hannah Bambra, a writer and reproductive health advocate, dives into the alarming reality of healthcare refusals based on personal beliefs. She shares Ava's troubling experience being denied emergency contraception, highlighting how this denial can lead to devastating consequences, especially in regional areas. Bambra emphasizes the need for transparency in healthcare, advocating for public registers to help patients make informed choices. She challenges the notion of conscientious objection, urging a reevaluation of its role in modern medicine.
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Young Woman Denied Morning-After Pill
- Ava, a 22-year-old medical student in Ballarat, was refused emergency contraception at a local pharmacy.
- The pharmacist gave no referral and Ava had to spend most of her day finding the medication elsewhere.
Widespread Scope Of Conscientious Objection
- Conscientious objection in Australia spans GPs, nurses, pharmacists and even hospitals, with over 20% of pharmacists willing to deny care.
- Denials cover abortion, PrEP, IVF medication for same-sex couples, contraception and more, creating systemic access barriers.
Regional Teen Forced Into Public Abortion
- A teen in a regional town was denied emergency contraception and then denied abortion referral, leading to a distressing, public surgical abortion.
- She couldn't drive, hid it from her parents, and had to walk past protesters to access care at a regional hospital.