The Court Rules: The Commission Neglected its Duties Pursuant to Article 85 (1) of the Treaty

In the heart of Germany, a legal dispute is unfolding in the town of Lippstadt. At the centre of this controversy is a gynecologist, Joachim Volz, who is challenging the Catholic hospital operator's policy that bans abortions on its premises.

The hospital, now under the management of the Catholic Trinity Hospital GmbH following a merger with the Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt, maintains a strict no-abortion policy based on religious grounds. However, Volz, who provides abortion services, argues that this ban restricts access to legally permitted medical care and conflicts with medical ethics and patient rights.

The ban applies to both the Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt and Volz's private practice in Bielefeld. According to German law (Paragraph 218 of the Criminal Code), abortions are fundamentally illegal but not punishable within the first 12 weeks and after counseling, and are legal in certain cases such as severe fetal malformations, rape, or if there is a risk to the life, physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Volz, who launched an online petition titled "I am a doctor and my help is not a sin", formally addressed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the ministers for health, family, and justice, believes that the ban ignores the medical judgment, the will of the patient, and the law that permits such an intervention in certain cases.

He is not alone in his fight. More than 150,000 people have already signed the petition, and the regional Medical Association Westfalen-Lippe shows solidarity with Volz and his actions against the ban, finding it unethical and unacceptable to only act when the mother's life is acutely endangered.

Employment lawyer Till Müller-Heidelberg, who is representing Volz, states that enforcing Catholic moral and ethical principles through employment law contradicts European case law and German law. Violations of the service instruction by Volz could result in employment law consequences, including termination of the employment relationship.

A conciliation hearing at the Labour Court in Hamm failed, and the hearing on August 8 is now scheduled. Volz has received numerous messages encouraging him to continue fighting and is prepared to go through further judicial instances if necessary.

The Archdiocese of Paderborn criticizes Volz for publicly questioning the ethical orientation of the clinic and emphasizes the importance of church-run institutions in contributing to the ethical value diversity of the healthcare system in a pluralistic society.

A demonstration is planned in Lippstadt on August 8, the day of the trial, with political representatives from the state and federal levels participating. The ongoing legal dispute in Lippstadt highlights the tension between religious freedom of faith-based healthcare institutions and the legal right to abortion services in Germany.

Science and ethics are at the forefront of a legal dispute in Lippstadt, Germany.
The controversy revolves around a gynecologist, Joachim Volz, and the Catholic hospital operator's abortion policy.
The Catholic Trinity Hospital GmbH, following a merger, upholds a no-abortion policy due to religious grounds.
Volz, who offers abortion services, contends that the ban restricts access to legally permitted medical care.
The ban extends to both the Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt and Volz's private practice in Bielefeld.
German law (Paragraph 218 of the Criminal Code) allows abortions within the first 12 weeks and after counseling, and in certain cases like severe fetal malformations, rape, or risk to the mother's health.
Volz launched an online petition, expressing his belief that the ban ignores medical judgment, patient will, and the law.
The petition, titled "I am a doctor and my help is not a sin," has been signed by over 150,000 people.
The regional Medical Association Westfalen-Lippe supports Volz, finding the ban unethical and acceptable only in cases of acute life threats.
Employment lawyer Till Müller-Heidelberg, representing Volz, argues that enforcing Catholic principles through employment law contradicts European and German law.
A conciliation hearing at the Labour Court in Hamm failed, with the hearing scheduled on August 8.
Volz is prepared to face further judicial instances if necessary, receiving encouragement from numerous messages.
The Archdiocese of Paderborn criticizes Volz for questioning the ethical orientation of the clinic, emphasizing the role of church-run institutions in healthcare.
A demonstration is planned in Lippstadt on August 8, the day of the trial, with political representatives participating.
The ongoing dispute underscores the tension between religious freedom and the legal right to abortion services in Germany.
This issue also touches upon the realm of workplace-wellness, as Volz's employment could be at risk.
Medical-conditions, chronic diseases, and mental health might be impacted by the ban on abortions in certain situations.
The dispute also sheds light on womens-health, as it pertains to reproductive rights and access to care.
All of this points to the larger health-and-wellness industry, which strives for patient-centered care.
Fitness-and-exercise, skin-care, and eye-health are just a few aspects of the industry, aiming to promote overall well-being.
The industry involves therapies-and-treatments for various medical-conditions, addressing diverse health needs.
Men's-health, sexual-health, and hearing are also crucial areas of focus for the health-and-wellness industry.
The legal issue in Lippstadt highlights the need for data-and-cloud computing and technology in healthcare, as it fosters communication andcollaboration among healthcare providers.
Cybersecurity, personal-finance, and banking-and-insurance are additional areas that intersect with the health-and-wellness industry.
Finance, lifestyle, and investment opportunities are essential considerations for healthcare professionals, given the industry's rising costs and complexities.
Educating oneself in self-development, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden, along with understanding relationships, pets, travel, cars, and books, contributes to a holistic approach to health-and-wellness.
Additionally, fashion-and-beauty, entertainment, and pop-culture can influence personal perspectives on health-and-wellness and medical-conditions.
Ultimately, the legal dispute in Lippstadt calls for an open dialogue on the intersection of religion, ethics, and law in the healthcare system, with a focus on upholding patients' rights and promoting patient-centered care.

The Court Rules: The Commission Neglected its Duties Pursuant to Article 85 (1) of the Treaty