A Swedish Appeals Court has ruled against a midwife who was fired for refusing to assist in abortions. It is now likely that she will appeal her case to the European Court of Human Rights. Ellinor Grimmack took the anti-discrimination case when she had an offer of employment rescinded by one hospital, and was refused employment by other hospitals. This is despite there being a shortage of midwives in Sweden. In a statement to the newspaper Aftonbladet, Grimmack said: “As a midwife, I want to exercise a profession which defends life and saves lives at all cost. Are healthcare practitioners in Sweden to be forced to take part in procedures that extinguish life, at its beginning or final stages? Somebody has to take the little children’s side, somebody has to fight for their right to life.” But a Swedish court ruled yesterday that Grimmark has no choice but to participate in abortions if she wants to keep her job.

“Participation in abortions should not be a requirement for employment as a medical professional. In accordance with international law, the court should have protected Ellinor’s fundamental right to freedom of conscience,” said ADF International Director of European Advocacy Robert Clarke in a statement after the ruling. “For that reason, Ellinor is considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.”