More than 80 Cork doctors call for repeal of the Eighth

MORE than 80 doctors in Cork have written an open letter calling for the repeal of the Eighth amendment, saying it ‘is harming many of our patients’.

The Cork Doctors For Yes group is made up of medics from various specialties, including general practice, obstetrics, psychiatry and public health, and they have outlined their reasons for calling for a ‘yes’ vote on May 25.

“We are all too aware that life is complicated,” they wrote.

“We know that not all crisis pregnancies can be prevented. Not all wanted pregnancies will result in a baby capable of life after birth.

“Not all women can carry a pregnancy to term without putting her health and her life at significant medical risk.”

The doctors said that maternal and fetal medicine in Ireland is of a world-class standard but added that: “Under the Eighth amendment we cannot fulfill the most basic requirements of good clinical practice if our patient decides on or needs a termination of pregnancy.

“As medical professionals we have first-hand experience of the unique and difficult situations that can arise for a woman and her family as a result of pregnancy — women with significant health problems during pregnancy, or those pregnancies complicated by fatal fetal abnormalities, and women pregnant as a result of incest or rape.

“These women are our patients. It is because of them that we are involved in advocating for a ‘yes’ vote.”

Among the signatories are Professor Louise Kenny, Consultant Obstetrician, and Professor Richard Greene, clinical director of maternity services at CUMH.

The letter was also signed by a number of psychiatric consultants, a cardiologist and a consultant on public health.

There are also numerous GPs on the list, including Blackpool-based doctor Mary Favier, who has long campaigned for repeal.

In the letter, the medics said the referendum is not a vote on introducing abortion to Ireland.

“Abortion is an everyday reality here, but it is happening in an unregulated, unsupervised and unsupported way. We are extremely concerned about the data which shows that increasing numbers of our patients are buying’ abortion pills’ online and taking them at home. This is both unregulated and unsafe, and women and girls who take such medications are outside the protective net of our healthcare system.

“The status quo is not acceptable. Our patients who find themselves with a crisis in pregnancy need the best possible healthcare at home in Ireland.

"For all the women and families we have been unable to help in the past ...for all our future patients, we advocate a Yes vote.” 

SIGNATORIES

Dr. Liz Barry, GP 

Dr Cathy Burke, Consultant Obstetrician

Dr. Maria Bohane, GP 

Dr. Kate Marie Boyle, GP 

Dr. Claire Buckley, Specialist in Public Health Medicine

Dr. Phillip Cantillon, GP Dr. Susan Cavanagh, GP 

Dr. Aideen Coleman, GP Dr. Alison Creagan , GP 

Dr. Eimear McCarthy, GP 

Dr. Matt Dahm, GP 

Dr. Annette Daly, GP 

Dr. Maeve Davis, GP 

Dr. Michele Dillon, GP 

Dr. Sarah Duggan, GP 

Dr Eanna Falvey, Sport Physician 

Dr Mary Favier, GP 

Dr. Sarah Fitzgibbon, GP 

Dr. Louise Fullam, GP 

Professor Richard Greene, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Minne Geisler, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Trish Horgan, GP 

Dr. Ken Harte, GP 

Dr. Deirdre Hayes-Ryan. SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Änne Helps, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Matt Hewitt, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Aisling Jennings, GP 

Dr Emma Kenefick, GP Dr. Noreen Kelly, GP 

Professor Louise Kenny, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Laura Lane, GP 

Dr Noreen Lynch, GP 

Dr. Andrew Lyne, GP 

Dr. Aoife Lyons, GP 

Dr. Ciara McCarthy, GP 

Dr. Claire McCarthy, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Claire McCarthy, GP 

Dr. Fergus McCarthy, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Sean McCarthy, GP 

Dr. Shane McCarthy, GP 

Dr. Annmarie McGuinley, GP 

Dr. Karen McNamara, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Aoife McSweeney, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Fionnuala McSweeney, GP 

Dr. Ray Mulready, GP Dr. Carmel Murphy, GP 

Dr. Deirdre Muller Neff, Consultant Psychiatrist 

Dr. Aoife Ní Chorcoran, Consultant Psychiatrist 

Dr. Sadhbh Ní Lionaird, GP Dr. Èabha Ní Mhurchú, GP 

Dr. Ciara Nolan, GP 

Dr Aine Murphy, GP 

Dr. Anna Durand O'Connor, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Ciara O Connell, GP Dr. Keelin O'Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Ann Marie O'Flynn, Consultant Cardiologist 

Dr. Una O Halloran, GP 

Dr. John J. O Riordan, GP 

Dr. Sarah O Shaughnessy, GP 

Dr. Jan O Sullivan, GP 

Dr. Suzanne O Sullivan, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Oriel Perrott, GP 

Dr. Aideen Phelan, GP 

Professor Liam Plant, Consultant in Renal Medicine.

Dr. Diarmuid Quinlan, GP 

Dr. Meena Ramphul, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Tara Rigney, SpR in Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Sheila Rochford, GP 

Dr Nóirín Russell, Consultant Obstetrician.

Dr. Paul Ryan, GP 

Dr. Sarah Sheehan, GP 

Dr. Mike Thompson, GP 

Dr Emma Tobin, GP Dr. Carolyn Wallace, GP 

Dr. Laura Linehan, SpR Obs/Gyn 

Dr. Criona Walshe, Consultant Anaesthetist 

Dr Trish Ryan, GP 

Dr Karen O Connor 

Dr . Kevin Murphy, Consultant Radiologist 

Dr. Anthony O Connor , Consultant Gastroenterologist 

Dr. Brenda Moran, GP Dr. Ailish Bohane, GP 

Dr. Derek Power, Consultant Oncologist Dr. Paul Nolan, GP 

Professor Patricia Kearney , Consultant Epidemiologist.

Mr. Thomas Murphy, Consultant Surgeon 

Dr. Deirdre Long, GP 

Dr.Mike Barrett, Consultant Paediatrician 

Dr.Mary Jane Brassill, Consultant Endocrinologist 

Dr. Emer O’Callaghan , GP  

Dr. Tony Foley, GP

Dr. Aifric O'Driscoll , GP 

Dr. Louise Nestor , GP 

Leah Flynn. GP 

Dr Yvonne Hayes GP 

Dr Brendan Payne GP 

Karen O'Connor Consultant Psychiatrist 

Dr Ger McLoughlin GP 

Dr Breda Moran