There has been a call to circumscribe the use of conscientious objection as Ireland’s system of providing abortions comes under strain.

Academic, Dr Deirdre Duffy was appointed by the Government to examine the working of the current system. She identified issues around guidance on conscientious objection as well shortcomings in the spread of services available around the country and the availability of staff and facilities in hospitals.

Regarding conscientious objection, she said there was regulation and guidance but their research had uncovered evidence of conscientious objection being interpreted in various ways that was not ‘consistent’ with these regulations. It was not clear what she meant by this and pro-life groups are concerned it may lead to conscience rights being curtailed.
“Where someone breaches their obligations in a hospital, it is almost impossible to challenge them. If you take someone off the ward for unprofessional conduct for example, there may be no one there to fill their post,” she said. “There is a lack of consistent management of conscientious objection.”

Dr Duffy said the availability of facilities and staff were major issues and there were instances of people being sent back from operating theatres or “timing out” of abortion access because of this.

In a tweet, Aontu said: “90% of doctors refuse to carry out abortions. Most doctors became doctors to save lives, not to end lives. Now the government are seeking ways of forcing medics to participate in abortions against their conscience.“