DOCTORS SPLIT OVER ABORTION CAMPAIGN
GPS back both Yes and No sides
DOCTORS were divided yesterday over the abortion referendum as the campaigns entered their final two weeks.
GPS and nurses from the Save the 8th Campaign claimed a Yes result would lead to a potential “disaster” in the health service.
While Doctors Together for Yes said 1,300 medics have declared they support liberalising the abortion laws on May 25.
The No side slammed Health Minister Simon Harris for not consulting doctors who would carry out the operations.
Spokesman Neil Maguire said: “We are being told that this proposal is about the safety and health of women, and yet what is being proposed, in a cavalier fashion, is explicitly unsafe for women.
“Minister Harris has not spoken to us about what role he expects us to fulfil, and what is more, he has explicitly refused to discuss it until after a referendum has been passed.”
The No campaign said the Government was overestimating the impact of abortion pills in delivering the
NO CAMPAIGN GP TALKING YESTERDAY
terminations that will be required, claiming there could be 2,000 surgical abortions in Ireland in the first year of the new law.
The Yes side said the number of doctors signing the online petition has been growing steadily.
Spokesman Mark Murphy added: “Doctors who have signed the petition want to provide safer, more compassionate healthcare in Ireland for our patients.
“The Eighth Amendment puts doctors in a constitutional straitjacket which holds us back from providing proper care to our patients.
“We want this to change and that is why we are publicly declaring our support for a Yes vote.” 5.2 litre engine
Minister Harris has not spoken to us about what role he expects us to fulfil
NEIL MAGUIRE
Speed limit in Vatican City, where there are about 1,000 cars