Eighth has caused ‘grave harm to women’- Dr Boylan
ONE of the country’s leading gynaecologists has said the Eighth Amendment has caused grave harm to many women.
Dr Peter Boylan who is also a former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, said the amendment had not achieved what it had set out to. “THE 8th Amendment has caused grave harm to many women in Ireland, including death. Manifestly, it has not achieved the original aim of its supporters - to prevent women in Ireland having abortions.” “I do not think the Constitution is the place to regulate medical practice. It is too rigid and as we have seen with the 8th amendment, it creates endless problems. Legislation and regulation following that legislation is the way to deal with it,” said Dr Boylan who is also chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists .
Dr Boylan was speaking at the launch of the launch of the Leitrim Together for Yes, in the Lough Allen Hotel, Drumshanbo last week.
Leitrim had the second highest ratio per county, after Dublin, of women travelling to the UK for abortion care in 2016.
“Our launch took place as part of a public information evening designed to inform the voters of Leitrim of the harm which has been caused to the women of Leitrim and, indeed, to all the women of Ireland by the Eighth Amendment, and the reasons why it must be removed.
“We believe that women in Ireland need and deserve proper care and compassionate support. We were aware, also, that some members of local groups opposed to the repeal of the Eighth were in attendance and welcomed their engagement, which adds to a national conversation that is long overdue.
“People came from all over Leitrim and the surrounding counties to hear the panel of distinguished and excellent speakers share factual information and personal testimonies with a room packed with listeners from both sides of the debate,” said a spokesperson.
Arlette Lyons is co-founder of the group Termination For Medical Reasons Ireland has been campaigning for compassionate care for women and families faced with a diagnosis of Fatal Foetal Abnormality since 2012.
“If the 8th amendment is not repealed women and couples will still have to endure the worst journey of their lives. It is heart-breaking and traumatic enough to receive the news your baby will die without having the extra pain of traveling outside your own country to receive the care you badly need,” she said.
Paula Morrin better known on social media as Nurse Polly is a registered midwife, a registered nurse, mother and grandmother and a member of Midwives for Choice who works in a maternity hospital in Dublin said: “Since its introduction in 1983 the 8th amendment has created an environment where responsibility of control for the pregnant woman is in the hands of the Health Care Provider. For practicing midwives, this is a scary position to be in.”
MC for the evening was JoAnne Neary of Leitrim Together for Yes. She said: “In 2016 at least 151 women from the Northwest, 21 women from Leitrim, travelled to the UK for an abortion. We know there are many more women who have taken abortion pills they’ve bought illegally online, with no medical support. This shouldn’t be the case - these women, a lot of them mothers, are making these decisions not just for themselves but for their families. A woman should be able to do this in consultation with her Doctor and with the support of her Doctor, BUT, we also know the 8th amendment influences the decision-making abilities of clinicians when treating a woman who is pregnant in Ireland.”
“Ireland today is a very different place than it was back in 1983. The people of this Ireland understand the need for a comprehensive healthcare system. One that gives the women of Ireland access to abortion care here at home.”
“On 25 th May 2018 we have an opportunity to vote yes and show we are a compassionate country which understands that sometimes difficult decisions have to be made, and that we trust the women in our lives to make those decisions.”