Varadkar’s symphysiotomy assurances welcomed

Patient Focus, which provides support to up to 200 women who underwent symphysiotomies, has welcomed assurances from Health Minister Leo Varadkar that the Government will start paying redress by the end of the year.

Patient Focus said the speedy payments are to be welcomed because of the advanced age of the women.

The group were also told by Mr Varadkar, at a meeting yesterday, that the women don’t need to waive their legal right to take a court case until they sign documentation agreeing to participate in the redress scheme — another assurance they welcomed.

“Our members are generally positive about the scheme but, with women dying, it is important that payments are made as soon as possible.

“The women have not said to us that an apology is vital as, unlike the hepatitis C case, there isn’t one uniform story here. The stories and reasons for these operations were all different and there is also problems around the lack of patient records,” said spokeswoman Róisín O’Leary.

Another symphysiotomy support group, Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SOS), is less happy with the proposed Murphy redress scheme. It submitted an eight-point plan to Mr Varadkar before yesterday’s meeting outlining how its outstanding issues with Murphy redress scheme could be resolved.

“We told the minister today that the redress scheme as laid out last July is fundamentally flawed. We are looking for a better deal for Survivors of Symphysiotomy. SoS members unanimously rejected the Murphy plan for redress, a scheme the UN also found defective. A new scheme is required if it is to be acceptable to our members. Our members’ High Court actions, meanwhile, are proceeding apace.

“An admission of wrongdoing is fundamental. Truth is the first prerequisite to any resolution. The State must now admit that these operations should never have been performed,” said Marie O’Connor.

At least 1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out across Ireland from the mid-1940s to the mid-’80s. The surgery severed the pubic bones, unhinging the pelvis.

It is understood the 18th century procedure was revived at the National Maternity Hospital in 1944, as the alternative — Caesarean sections — could limit pregnancies, something which flew in the face of Catholic culture.

Following a complaint lodged by SOS about the Government’s handling of the symphysiotomy survivors, a United Nations Human Rights Committee said the “perpetrators” of symphysiotomy should be punished and prosecuted.

Earlier this year, the committee said: “The State party should initiate a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into cases of symphysiotomy, prosecute and punish the perpetrators, including medical personnel, and provide an effective remedy to the survivors of symphysiotomy for the damage sustained, including fair and adequate compensation and rehabilitation, on an individualised basis.”

Last year, the Government appointed Judge Yvonne Murphy to examine how an ex gratia compensation scheme could be structured. SOS has says it does not support an ex gratia compensation scheme, as this would mean that liability would not be admitted.