Doctors should speak with ‘one voice’ on right to opt out of abortion, doctor conference hears

The vast majority of GPs in Ireland are not performing abortions, but the law that permits medical practitioners to refuse to provide a termination on grounds of conscience needs to be strengthened, a conference in Dublin heard on Saturday.

Doctors for Life, an association of pro-life health professionals, hosted its annual conference at the Carlton Hotel. The conference was addressed by a number of speakers.

Doctors for Life chairman Dr Ronan Cleary said: “Recent reports have highlighted a focus of the Irish abortion review on the topic of freedom of conscience.

“It is important that we as doctors speak with one voice on the need to uphold and strengthen freedom of conscience, to ensure it applies across the board to all healthcare professionals and that nobody is compelled against their principles to perform an abortion.

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“The vast majority of GPs in Ireland are not performing abortions. Even for those who do not describe themselves as pro-life, in their heart of hearts they know abortion is not healthcare.

“Any attempt to erode freedom of conscience and bludgeon doctors into violating their principles by providing abortions against their will would rightly prompt a massive reaction from doctors.”

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín told attendees doctors were being “pushed into situations” where they were performing abortions.

“In the last three years 25,000 children north and south have been aborted,” he said. “That’s the equivalent of 62 primary schools of children whose lives have been ended by the abortion law.

“It’s the equivalent to the total populations of Carlow, Ennis or Tralee having their lives wiped out in a three-year period. Ninety eight per cent of children aborted were healthy babies with healthy mothers.

“This is not healthcare. It’s the opposite. Now the Minister for Health is awaiting the three year review report which is actively reviewing the right of conscientious objection by doctors and healthcare staff.

“People who spent all their lives working and studying to save lives are in real danger of being pushed into situations where they will have to end lives.”