Category: Ireland

‘We had a very short interval’: Some practitioners concerned over timing of abortion services

Some hospitals are waiting for the system to be fully up and running before providing the service.

thejournal.ie

Zuzia Whelan

MEMBERS OF THE Institute of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – the national training body for obstetricians and gynaecologists  — have raised concerns about the short length of time between signing and enactment of legislation for abortion services in Ireland. 

Speaking on Morning Ireland, director Dr Cliona Murphy expressed the institution’s wish that there had been a longer lead-in time for hospitals instead of the 1 January deadline imposed by the Minister for Health. . . [Full text] 

Overburdened GPs won’t sign up for abortion says doctor

The Irish Catholic

Chai Brady

Large numbers of GPs are not signing up to be part of abortion provision because of the “disdain” they have been shown by Government as well as, or because of, their pro-life stance, according to a Kerry-based general practitioner.

So far under 10% of Ireland’s GPs have agreed to perform medical abortions since the legislation was implemented. . . [Full text]

Doctors express concern over termination services amid fears of ‘risks’ to patients’ safety

The issues were raised at an extraordinary general of the institute this evening

thejournal.ie

Stephen McDermott

MEMBERS OF THE Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have expressed concerns over the roll-out of services to terminate pregnancies in Ireland.

The issues were raised at an extraordinary general meeting of the institute – which is the national training body for obstetricians and gynaecologists in Ireland – this evening . . .[Full text]

More haste, less care in Minister’s rush to start abortion services

Bad preparation has left health professionals with little guidance, training and resources

The Irish Times

Paul Cullen

The first week of abortion services in Ireland will not go down as model of good organisation, clear communication and open disclosure. 

The very opposite: eight days into the new regime, health professionals are still operating with insufficient information and guidance, and little training.  The rest of us have been kept in the dark about what services are available, and where. . . . [Full text]

Doctors are last line of abortion defence

The law has changed but responsibilities of medical profession have not

The Times

David Quinn

In the Germany of Otto von Bismarck, they called it the Kulturkampf, which means cultural struggle. In a narrow sense it referred to the battle between the German state and the Catholic church over schools and ecclesiastical appointments, but more generally to efforts to reduce the influence of Catholicism in German life. The Lutheran church, being state-run, was not deemed a threat to Bismarck’s vision for a newly unified Germany.

The Irish state has not quite got around to seeking control over who gets to become a bishop, but church-run schools are in its sights, and ministers seem determined to reduce the influence of Catholicism in Irish life to a minimum. . . [Full text]