Following legal pressure, the Madrid region has initiated procedures for a Registry of Conscientious Objectors to abortion by publishing a draft order for public consultation, in compliance with a TSJM precautionary measure.
In a key development in the ongoing dispute, the Madrid region under Isabel Díaz Ayuso has published a draft order from its Health Department on the Transparency Portal to establish the Registry of Conscientious Objectors to abortion. This formal step, announced on Wednesday, opens a 30 working-day period for public submissions and fulfills a precautionary order from the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM).
The TSJM's measure responded to a request from the State Attorney's Office on behalf of the Health Ministry, enforcing the protocol approved unanimously by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System in December 2024. This follows earlier tensions, including the ministry's October 2025 requirement to Madrid and others, November 2025 announcement of legal action by Minister Mónica García, and Madrid's initial refusal and appeal against the March 9 order.
Madrid's regional health counselor has committed to defending constitutional rights to objection. Currently, the region outsources most voluntary terminations to private clinics, with public health abortions under 1% locally versus 21.26% nationally, having spent 22 million euros over six years.
