Readers Blog: Referendum is not about maternal healthcare
As former chairs of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG) we have been horrified at the statements made by colleagues on maternal care. We are particularly appalled by the comments of Dr Rhona Mahony in the ‘Together for Yes’ campaign video where she states: “In Ireland today, we play medical roulette with women’s lives.”
And also those of Dr Peter Boylan in the same video where he claims the Eighth Amendment “makes it difficult for us to treat women with compassion and give them the proper care that they need”.
These comments are simply not true and are a serious misrepresentation of the maternal health system. We call on them to withdraw these statements.
Each of us has had extensive experience in obstetrics and gynaecology. In our privileged position as chairs of the IOG, we have fought to improve the standards of care for mothers and newborn babies.
Ireland is a very safe country in which to be pregnant. The Eighth does not prevent women receiving care of the highest possible standard. This is why our maternal death rate is so low. Recent ‘Maternal Death Enquiry’ reports confirm that Ireland is one of the safest places in the world to be pregnant.
Not one of our colleagues should ever be permitted to use the Eighth as an excuse for not treating a woman. Each one of us can stand over the care we have provided. Four of us who practised in this jurisdiction have carried out necessary surgery which resulted in termination of pregnancy to save and protect Irish women.
We had no difficulty in so doing, and the Eighth did not prevent us from performing an ethical and medically indicated procedure.
On May 25, Irish people will be asked to vote on whether the right to life of an unborn baby should be withdrawn. If the answer is ‘yes’, it is the stated intention of Government to introduce legislation to enable ending the life of a perfectly healthy foetus, in a perfectly healthy pregnant woman. That is a matter of conscience for each voter.
What this referendum is not about, and what it has never been about, is maternal healthcare. That some campaigners have chosen to engage in a campaign to raise unnecessary fears for maternal health in the electorate is deeply regrettable.
