Pro-choice doctors incensed at Government leak over abortion payment negotiations

Doctors who supported Health Minister Simon Harris in his campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment are angry at Government threats to force them to accept a set fee to provide abortions, reports the Irish Independent. A leaked Cabinet memo said GPs may demand substantial fees for the service and exploit Government promises to have a service in place by January. Doctors for Choice, which provided strong support for the Minister during the referendum campaign, warned the delivery of the service would have to be properly resourced. They warned that if GPs are not given a three-figure negotiated fee to cover two to three visits, doctors may be pushed to say no to participating in providing the service. They also questioned whether the minister was trying to pitch the public against GPs.