Whether for or against abortion, 85% of Irish doctors believe that “medical abortion is not part of routine general practice”. To trivialise abortion by likening it “to the treatment of asthma, heart disease or diabetes” would “be full of hypocrisy” and “tantamount to a lack of respect for women”.
For Dr Maitiu O’Tuathail, President of the National Association of General Practitioners in Ireland, abortion isn’t just a case of simply prescribing a tablet. There are real risks of complications, contraindications and side effects of medication which are far from trivial and which should be taken into consideration. Furthermore, “emotionally, this is a very difficult time for patients”, stresses the doctor who, personally, has said that he is in favour of proposing abortion.
In addition, during its General Meeting held last Saturday, the National Association of General Practitioners unanimously decided that abortion should be available according to an “opt-in” system, i.e. only by doctors willing to provide abortions. This procedure is already used in some specialist areas requiring dedicated and specially trained doctors, excluding all GPs (see Abortion in Ireland: doctors ask to include their right to conscientious objection in proposed legislation).
Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Prime Minister, has announced that doctors, nurses and midwives would see their right to conscientious objection enshrined in the draft law. However, he has also confirmed that institutions would not have this right. Catholic hospitals would therefore be legally obliged to perform abortions: “This legislation would enable individuals to withdraw based on their conscience or religious beliefs, but would not allow institutions to do this”.
The draft bill provides for the option to perform abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy following a period of reflection, and up to the 24th week “in extreme cases” (see Referendum in Ireland: the government proposes 21 clauses to regulate abortion).
For further reading:
Referendum in Ireland: the government proposes 21 clauses to regulate abortion
BBC (12/06/2018) ; The Journal (13/06/2018)