Symphysiotomy survivors seek Dáil vote support

A group representing 200 women who suffered a discredited procedure during childbirth has called on the Government to support a private member’s bill in the Dáil next week to facilitate their action against hospitals.

Survivors of Symphysiotomy said the proposed legislation would lift the two-year statute of limitations which is preventing many of their members from seeking compensation in the courts.

The group said similar legislation was introduced in 2000 to allow child sex abuse victims of residential institution take action.

A symphysiotomy involves sawing a pregnant woman’s pelvis in half to facilitate childbirth. It results in long-term health problems including chronic pain and incontinence.

It was carried out in Ireland between 1944 and 1992, long after such operations had been discontinued in other countries.

Yesterday, the group said survivors wanted justice to be done as many of the operations were carried out illegally as doctors had failed to seek their consent.

“Lifting the statute bar is the only things the Dáil can do to try and make amends to these women, who were so dreadfully abused in Irish hospitals on the State’s watch,” said the group’s spokeswoman, Marie O’Connor.

She said time was not on the side of many survivors. Only 200 women from the estimated 1,500 who received a symphysiotomy are still alive.

One survivor from Dundalk, Co Louth, died recently, said Ms O’Connor.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, chairman of the all-party support group who will introduce the bill next week, said it was modelled on the 2000 legislation to allow victims of child sex abuse in residential institutions seek compensation.

Mr Ó Caoláin said the women were entitled to justice as they had suffered “clandestine operations which were concealed from women by sections of the medical profession”.

The group has called a report commissioned by the Government about the practice last year “a whitewash”. It concluded that 97% of symphysiotomies carried out in Ireland were in line with acceptable medical practice.

Survivors of Symphysiotomy yesterday did give a guarded welcome to comments by Justice Minister Alan Shatter, who said he expected the plight of survivors would be addressed by the health minister.

Last night, the Department of Health said that a report it commissioned on the use of symphysiotomy is nearing completion and will be submitted to Health Minister James Reilly next month.

The department said the minister’s priority is to ensure that women who underwent the procedure now have their health needs comprehensively met through HSE services.