11-30-12 DEAR PROLIFE COLLEAGUE, OUR 11-20 LETTER DETAILED THE IRISH MATERNAL MORTALITY GETTING MAJOR MEDIA EXPOSURE. GET SOME ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM IRISH PHYSICIANS. THEY ARE NOT CONFUSED. TAKEN FROM IRISH BLOG “YOUTH DEFENSE.” http://www.youthdefence.ie/latest-news/irish-doctors-say-no-confusion-in-saving-mothers-lives/ IRISH DOCTORS SAY NO CONFUSION IN SAVING MOTHER’S LIVES NOV. 21, 2012 In the past seven days some of Ireland’s most experienced Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have come forward to say that they will always intervene to save a mother if a life-threatening condition arises in pregnancy. While some of have expressed a desire for legal clarity, all have stated that women are safe in Ireland under the present Medical Guidelines. Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe who is spokesperson for the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has said that doctors do intervene to save the life of a pregnant woman, even if it means the loss of a baby and that there was “no evidence they [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][doctors] are letting people die”. She said obstetricians believed they had the freedom to intervene to save a woman’s life, even if it meant the loss of the unborn baby.
Dr John Monaghan on Newstalk: The whole thing has become very inflamed. We cannot at this stage judge what the true medical facts were. I cannot see how legislation would have influenced this particular scenario. In the light of the [Medical Council] guidelines I quoted to you a few minutes ago, it would be legitimate under the current regulation that a doctor would intervene to deliver the baby in the situation where the mother has become septic. To me as a clinician that would fit in with those guidelines. So I am not sure how legislation could deal with this particular case as I understand it.
Dr Rhona O’Mahoney of Holles Street told Newstalk that “women can be assured that if they need treatment, they will get it in this country. The standard of care if very high. If a termination of pregnancy is indicated to save her life, that termination will be done. They can rest assured that that is the case. That’s how things stand at the moment.”
Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, said he sees no evidence of confusion in medical ranks in Ireland over whether or not a woman can have an abortion if her life is at risk. He said it would be preferable to have legislation to bring clarity, but he said that in his experience he has not seen confusion among doctors on whether a woman is entitled to an abortion on clinical grounds. “No. Not in relation to where a mother’s health is at risk,” he told the Independent. Dr Coulter-Smith is also clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and has headed the Rotunda for the last three and a half years.
Medical Council President Professor Kieran Murphy told the Irish Times that its current guidelines on abortion were decided in 2009 and reflect the current legal position. Prof Murphy said the guidelines were prepared after extensive consultation with the public and the profession. He added that the guidelines are as accessible and as straightforward as possible and had received a plain English recognition mark.
Other links on medical issues / doctors Death as a result of infection during miscarriage rate – Dr Muiris Houston in the Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1114/1224326573976.html[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]