The First Instance Court determined that the Commission had neglected its duties as required by Article 85 (1) of the Treaty.
In the small town of Lippstadt, a significant legal dispute is unfolding between gynecologist Joachim Volz and the Catholic owner of the Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt (EVK), following a recent merger that has transferred the hospital's operations to the Catholic Trinity Hospital GmbH.
Volz, a long-standing physician at the hospital, has been prohibited from performing medically indicated abortions due to the merger. This ban, he argues, ignores the medical judgment, the will of the patient, and the law that allows such procedures in certain cases, such as cases of severe fetal malformations or danger to the life, physical, or mental health of the pregnant woman.
Over 150,000 people have signed an online petition initiated by Volz, titled "I am a doctor, and my help is not a sin." The petition, launched on July 1, calls for a separation between church and medicine. Volz sees his role as a doctor as a "duty of humanity" and considers resignation not an option.
The Labor Court in Hamm is set to deliver a decision on August 8, following a failed settlement hearing. Volz's labor lawyer, Till Müller-Heidelberg, contends that enforcing Catholic moral and ethical principles through labor law contradicts European and German law.
The Archdiocese of Paderborn has criticized Volz for publicly questioning the clinic's ethical orientation. However, Volz argues that the Catholic owner's ban on abortions is akin to labelling him and his team as "murderers."
The regional Medical Association of Westphalia-Lippe has expressed solidarity with Volz and his stance against the ban. A demonstration is planned in Lippstadt on the day of the hearing, with a march from the clinic to the court, and political representatives from the state and federal levels are expected to attend.
Abortions are fundamentally illegal but not punishable within the first 12 weeks and after counseling, and are legal if they are medically indicated, in cases of severe fetal malformations, or in cases of rape or danger to the life, physical, or mental health of the pregnant woman. If the life and health of the pregnant woman are in danger, abortions may still be performed.
Despite extensive research, no notable public case or ruling involving Volz and the abortion ban at a Catholic hospital in Germany has been documented in widely accessible sources. The outcome of this legal dispute remains uncertain, with Volz prepared to pursue the matter through further judicial instances if necessary.
- The small town of Lippstadt witnesses a heated legal debate between gynecologist Joachim Volz and the Catholic owner of Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt (EVK), following a hospital merger.
- Volz, a seasoned physician, faces restrictions on performing medically necessary abortions due to the merger.
- He argues that this ban infringes on medical judgment, patient autonomy, and the law allowing such procedures in specific cases.
- Over 150,000 people have supported Volz's online petition titled "I am a doctor, and my help is not a sin," advocating for the separation of church and medicine.
- Volz perceives his role as a doctor as a "duty of humanity" and views resignation as an unacceptable option.
- The Labor Court in Hamm awaits its August 8 decision, following an unsuccessful settlement hearing.
- Volz's labor lawyer, Till Müller-Heidelberg, argues that enforcing Catholic moral and ethical principles through labor law contradicts European and German law.
- The Archdiocese of Paderborn criticizes Volz for publicly questioning the clinic's ethical orientation.
- On the hearing date, a demonstration is planned in Lippstadt, with a march from the clinic to the court, and notable political figures are expected to attend.
- In Germany, abortions are fundamentally illegal but not punishable during the first 12 weeks and after counseling, and are legal if medically indicated.
- They are permitted in cases of severe fetal malformations, risk to the life, physical, or mental health of the pregnant woman, or instances of rape.
- If the life and health of the pregnant woman are endangered, abortions may still be performed.
- Extensive research has uncovered no public case or ruling involving Volz and the abortion ban at a Catholic hospital in Germany.
- Science, workplace-wellness, and medical-conditions all play pivotal roles in this legal conflict.
- Chronic diseases, cancer, and respiratory conditions form part of the broader health-and-wellness discussions in this dispute.
- The issue also involves eye-health, hearing, and digestive health considerations.
- Fitness-and-exercise, sexual-health, and skincare are important aspects of personal growth and self-development.
- Both autoimmune disorders and mental-health concerns are key elements in this legal dispute.
- Mens-health, cardiovascular-health, and Medicare are also pertinent to the hospital merger and Volz's predicament.
- CBD, neurological-disorders, and skin-conditions are additional health matters being considered.
- Migration, education-and-self-development, and politics are interconnected in this discourse.
- War-and-conflicts and job-search have indirect influences on the case.
- General-news, crime-and-justice, and accidents are other areas that may be impacted by the court's decision.
- Fires, learning, and goal-setting are essential elements in overall career development.
- Skills-training, sports, football, and the Champions League are important areas of personal growth and productivity.
- Basketball encompasses the NCAA-basketball, WNBA, European leagues, and premier-league.
- American-football, NBA, Serie A, and LaLiga are other sports integral to career development and productivity.
- Policy-and-legislation, car-accidents, policy-and-legislation, and cbd are topics that will likely intertwine in the wake of this legal dispute.