Medics who provide abortions in Ireland have described moments of personal doubt about their work, according to new research.

The study by a trio of UCD academics was based on interviews with 13 abortion providers, including GPs, midwives, obstetricians and nurses.

One of those interviewed said the hardest thing morally and ethically “is seeing the little fetus”.

“[A]t the end of it all … they are formed so well, like even little fingernails … it’s just unbelievable really the formation even just … coming up to that twelve-week mark”.

“[E]ven the position. A lot of the time, they just have their little hands underneath their chin, or their hands could be across their chest … On a personal level, you just have to try and forget about it as quick as you can, but there’s certain cases that you don’t forget about … as much as others and especially the babies that are, you know, all older babies and babies that are … practically formed in every way … so that can be very, very difficult.”

Another said “In theatre during a termination … you kind of have to take yourself out of the room a little bit in your head cause I think if I thought about it too much, I would have gotten uncomfortable or I would have gotten upset, just the physical thought of what’s actually happening.”

Another interviewee said it’s “not a pleasant procedure”, adding: “you can have a moment every now and again like ‘Oh my god, [this is] not quite what I’m usually used to’ but that has diminished a lot.”