Flensburg's clinic in dispute: abortions only in an emergency!

Flensburg's clinic in dispute: abortions only in an emergency!

Flensburg, Deutschland - What's going in Flensburg? The city has hit a heated debate after the Evangelical Diaconess Agency (Diako) and the Catholic Hospital have come together to form the Fjord Clinic. In this new central clinic, however, there will be no more pregnancy abortions for social reasons. This ensures considerable public and political discussions about health care in the region. The Catholic Order of Malta, which leads the specifications for medical ethics, has decided that demolitions are only possible for women from medical indications such as a danger to life. There is a lot of resentment in the city, since many are considered to be clear that social reasons for demolition should also be taken into account. These conflicts fly around our ears here.

Birte Lohmann, a committed activist, has been fighting vehemently for the continuation of abortions in the hospital since 2019. She sees the decision as unbalanced and criticizes the influence of the Catholic Church on the rights of women. This becomes particularly clear when we look at the 1995 contract between the city and the diaco, in which it was stipulated to help women with unwanted pregnancies. Lohmann calls for a vigil on the Südermarkt in Flensburg to illustrate the protest against this regulation.

The role of the city and the supply situation

The city of Flensburg itself faces challenges. The planned establishment of an urban medical care center (MVZ) failed, since the responsibility for this lies at the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the state of Schleswig-Holstein. In a further step, according to city spokesman Christian Reimers, the city plans to introduce a social fund in order to offer women financial support for trips to clinics in other cities. While the state manager of Profamilia, Reiner Johannsen, denounces the insufficient care of women in the region, it remains unclear how the calls are heard for better solutions.

A critical point is that no stationary abortions have been carried out in the Diako Hospital since 2021, although in principle these are possible. In recent years, only outpatient interventions have been carried out - 77 in 2023 and 32 in 2024. Profamine points out that 233 women were looking for advice last year. This number illustrates the considerable need for support and medical interventions.

legal framework and ethical challenges

The right to abortion in Germany not only causes discussions in Flensburg. It is defined in paragraph 218a of the Criminal Code and enables abortions up to the 12th week, provided that advice has previously taken place. The complex interaction between conservative and liberal views about the life and the rights of pregnant women is also visible here again and again. According to the argument that doctors are committed to their ethical conviction, they are not forced to act against them, even if the law creates scope, raise ethical challenges.

It seems that the Diakonissenanstalt continues to take responsibility for comprehensive health care in the region. But if the supply conditions are not improved and the churches are in charge, the situation will hardly relax. Part of the topic is also the discussion about adequate educational advice on how it is prescribed in the pregnancy conflict law in order to meet women in emergencies.

A concept of "Abortation Buddies" was developed to volunteer affected women. This was approved for three years, but only shows part of the urgently needed need for action.

Flensburg is at a critical point. The dialogue between the different actors will be crucial to find a sustainable solution that meets both the legal requirements and the needs of women in this region. Further discussions are planned, but the hope of change is questionable, especially if compromises are difficult to reach due to stuck positions. It remains to be seen that the voice of women is heard in this debate.

For more information and current developments, the articles can be found at taz , Deutschlandfunk and Set reading.