A number of Irish doctors have added their names to an Amnesty International letter calling on governments worldwide to legislate for abortion.

In all, 838 medical professionals from around the world signed the letter, arguing that access to abortion is good for women’s “health and bodily autonomy”.

Among the signatories are Dr Veronica O’Keane, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, including the National Children’s Hospital (AMiNCH) and Dr Peter Boylan, former Master and Clinical Director of Ireland’s National Maternity Hospital.

According to Amnesty’s letter: “Evidence shows that health outcomes for women and girls are best where they have access to safe legal abortion…The criminalisation of abortion prevents healthcare providers from delivering timely, medically indicated care in accordance with their patients’ wishes…We, the undersigned medical health professionals, call for the decriminalisation of abortion in order to uphold the rights to life, health and bodily autonomy of women and girls.”

Highlighting its case for abortion, Amnesty has derided Ireland’s 8th Amendment to its Constitution which affords protection to the unborn, and has produced a widely criticised video using haunting imagery and ruined churchyards in calling for its repeal.

“At the very least women and girls should have access to an abortion when the pregnancy poses a risk to their life or health, in cases of severe or fatal foetal impairment, and in cases of rape or incest,” said Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty Ireland.  “International law also says that under no circumstances should a woman be made a criminal for having an abortion.”

Amnesty International’s global My Body My Rights campaign aims to stop the control and criminalisation of sexuality and reproduction by governments.

Amensty’s letter can be viewed at: https://www.amnesty.ie/open-letter-from-health-professionals