Doctor Files Lawsuit Against Employer Over Abortion Restriction
Shoot, it must be tough. Knowing help is in reach, but unable to give it. March rolls in, and a pregnant woman reaches out to Dr. Joachim Volz, head of gynecology at Lippstadt Hospital. Her fetus lacks a significant portion of its brain, making survival virtually impossible. This is a standard case for a medical-necessity abortion, as per Volz's experience. But alas, a recent merger between evangelical and Catholic hospitals in town has changed the game. Now, the Catholic Church's employment policy rules at Lippstadt Hospital, restricting abortions to life-threatening scenarios.
For Volz, this setup clashes with his beliefs: women should have the right to make decisions about their bodies – not religious institutions. Volz decides to challenge his employer in court, aiming for a verdict in July. If the labor court backs the hospital, he plans to escalate the case to the Federal Labor Court, if necessary.
This patriotic fight is being taken up by the 67-year-old at the twilight of his impressive career. Volz has worked in a Namibian clinic, in the military exclusion zone of Angola; built hospitals in Kashmir; trained doctors from Libya and Pakistan. In 2012, he co-founded a fertility center in Bielefeld with his wife.
Recently, Volz eyed a foray into federal politics: He applied for the Bundestag direct candidacy in the Bielefeld constituency in 2024, but his bid failed. The political party he targeted might surprise: much like the hospital, it bears “Christian” in its name.
In Germany, abortion laws are generally lenient, allowing terminations until 14 weeks of gestation, under specific conditions for later terminations if the woman's health is at risk or other severe circumstances apply. However, hospitals with Catholic affiliations may adhere to stricter policies regarding abortions, given the Church's stance on the issue. The Catholic Church deems abortion morally unacceptable, likening it to taking an innocent life.
Though there's no German law mandating how Catholic-affiliated hospitals should handle abortions, these institutions typically follow Catholic teachings, often refusing to carry out abortions unless a mother's life is directly threatened. As a result, women seeking abortions might be directed to hospitals without such affiliations or to specialized clinics that offer the service. The availability of abortion services varies widely based on the region and individual hospital policies.
It's worth mentioning that, while Catholic-affiliated hospitals may opt out of performing abortions, they're still obligated to provide emergency care and stabilize patients in perilous situations, which encompasses scenarios where an abortion might be required to save the mother's life.
- Dr. Joachim Volz, in a clash with his beliefs, is challenging his employer in court due to a conflict regarding women's rights to make decisions about their bodies, focusing on a case involving a medical-necessity abortion.
- In light of his fight against the hospital's policy, Volz, a seasoned medical professional, has worked in various parts of the world, including countries with differing religious and political landscapes.
- Volz's bid for federal politics in 2024, targeting a party with "Christian" in its name, fell short, which demonstrates his ongoing interest in influencing policy and legislation, particularly in the realm of health-and-wellness and mental-health, where women's rights are a key concern.
- Despite Catholic-affiliated hospitals refraining from performing elective abortions, they are still obligated to provide emergency care and stabilize patients in life-threatening situations, such as those necessitating an abortion to save the mother's life, in adherence to general-news standards of patient care.
