Review sought of childbirth procedure

AN OIREACHTAS committee is to seek an independent review of the cases of women who underwent a controversial procedure during childbirth which left them with a litany of lasting health problems.

The joint committee on health voted unanimously last week to ask Health Minister Mary Harney to review the medical files of the women who were subjected to symphysiotomies – a barbaric procedure during which the pelvis was sawn through to facilitate the delivery of a child.

The procedure was carried out in some maternity hospitals from the 1950s to the 1980s, most recently as 1983 in Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Solicitor Colm McGeehan, who is representing more than 90 of the women, said the practice had been largely abandoned by 1940 in the rest of the developed world, but continued in Ireland.

“All of these women are in a serious category, they are the walking wounded, in chronic pain all of the time. The least they deserve is a review of their cases, and it was promised by the Government in the past, but never came to pass.”

Mr McGeehan said approximately 550 women had undergone symphysiotomies but that many were now dead and survivors had dwindled to about 120. He said the Human Rights Commission had recommended the state commission an independent review.

“This could be done in August and September by Roger Clements, the British obstetric expert surgeon involved in the Michael Neary review,” he said.

Joint Oireachtas Health Committee member Dr James Reilly said it was “very clear there was a case to be made for a review”.

“One woman who outlined her case said she was subjected to a symphysiotomy after undergoing a C-section which makes no medical sense. She claims it was carried out on her to demonstrate the procedure to medical students,” Dr Reilly said.

Mr McGeehan said: “It was as if women who had more than two C-sections and who might be tempted to turn to family planning were subjected to this to widen their pelvis to facilitate future births. It was carried out by a league of Catholic doctors.”

The Department of Health said significant efforts had been made to source a suitable reviewer.

“In January 2006, the current Minister for Health and Children met with the chairperson of a patient support group to discuss the progress made in relation to various issues raised by the group. The question of an independent reviewer was discussed together with the difficulties that had been encountered in sourcing a mutually acceptable reviewer.

“The Irish Human Rights Commission was requested some time ago by another patient advocacy group to conduct an inquiry into matters relating to the practice of symphysiotomy in Ireland from the 1950s up to 1983. Having considered the matter in some detail the Commission decided against conducting such an Inquiry under the Human Rights Commission Act, 2000.”

* See Wednesday’s Irish Examiner where Colm McGeehan argues the case for an independent review.