Symphysiotomy survivors deserve better treatment

The continuing refusal of this Government to deal fairly with survivors of symphysiotomy now stands exposed (Sept 26).

While Minister Reilly’s quest for a judge to mediate with survivors may appear laudable, it cloaks the Government’s failure to advance our private members’ bill setting aside the statute of limitations and the minister’s refusal to entertain our offer of a negotiated settlement based on members’ legal actions. ‘Mediation’ is a calculated attempt to foil those actions.

It also serves to conceal: the Government has no intention of awarding damages for personal injuries due to medical negligence in these cases. Other victims of medical negligence were treated differently, those infected through contaminated blood with Hepatitis C or HIV, and (many of) those whose reproductive organs were gratuitously removed at the Lourdes Hospital. There, there was an admission of wrongdoing. Here, there is none.