We need to get religion out of our hospitals

I am very concerned by the allegations of modern medical procedures being restricted in St Vincent’s hospitals on Catholic, faith-based grounds. For anyone to reject access to modern medical procedures, which are freely available around the world, is a disgrace and morally wrong.

Access to medical care and procedures should not be a matter that religious beliefs play any role in. These hospitals are publicly funded and if these services are being denied to people it would be a national scandal.

Once again we can see the Catholic Church having an interfering effect on matters of the State if it is the case.

The situation regarding the 8th Amendment, for example, is an ongoing disgrace in this country. We should not be allowing the Catholic Church to decide what medical procedures the people of this State are allowed to avail of. All of these procedures impact directly on the ability of women to have autonomy over their bodies. In nearly all other countries in the developed world abortion is a standard procedure. And yet Ireland remains in the Dark Ages.

These allegations, if proven, demonstrate that we need to get religion out of our hospitals. Women should be able to access all maternity procedures in any hospital in the State. We could be looking at another Savita case in the future if this is not taken seriously and stopped.

Minister Varadkar should investigate if these allegations are the case, provide evidence that the procedures are available and make a statement on the matter.

Bríd Smith, TD

People Before Profit