Catholic doctors will not report illegal immigrants who show up for treatment despite a government move encouraging them to do so, the head of their association told Vatican Radio Friday.
Vincenzo Saraceni said doctors would not have to become 'conscientious objectors' in order to go against the government's wishes.
He noted that a crime bill which passed from the Senate to the Chamber of Deputies Thursday does not require doctors to report illegals but only lifts a previous ban on them doing so.
It is therefore left up to individual doctors to decide, he said.
Saraceni however voiced the hope that the Chamber of Deputies would remove the ''absolutely inopportune'' measure from the crime bill.
The centre-left opposition and doctors' groups have warned that the fear of being reported would stop illegal immigrants seeking care with serious health risks for the community.
