The anesthesiologists of the Samos Hospital have unanimously decided to abstain from anesthesia in abortions, except in the cases where there are medical reasons endangering the life or the health of the pregnant woman.

The anesthesiologists make use of the article 31 of Law 3418/2005 (Greek Code of Medical Ethics), according to which "a physician may invoke the rules and principles of his / her moral conscience and refuse to apply or to participate in the abortion procedures, unless there is an irreversible risk to the pregnant woman's life or a risk of serious and permanent damage to her health”.

Despite the fact that doctors cannot be forced to participate in an abortion procedure, the collegiality of the decision creates a conflict between the aformentioned right of doctors and the right of women to self-determination, as women wishing to having a legal abortion should either visit a private doctor or travel to another city or to self-abort, with any dangers that this entails.