‘Not fair to ask obstetricians about abortion’

Obstetricians “do not need to be in the vanguard” of the debate around repealing the Eight Amendment, according to the new clinical director for maternity services in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG).

John Higgins, who takes up his role on Monday, said he believes “a mistake has been made in the past where obstetricians were in the vanguard on both sides of this debate”.

“Asking obstetricians to contribute to the debate regardless of what their views are — I don’t think it’s fair,” said Prof Higgins. “I don’t think it’s required either. I think obstetricians have good insights but they shouldn’t be the arbiters on a constitutional situation.”