€450 - The Price of a Baby's Life

15.11.2018

A contract for the provision of abortion services in community settings has been agreed between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Minister for Health. The contract will be offered by the Health Service Executive to medical practitioners who express an interest in providing abortions up to nine weeks, the majority of which will occur in community settings.

While the proposed abortion law would permit GPs to perform abortions up to 12 weeks, in practice, women who are between nine and 12 weeks pregnant will have a medical abortion in a maternity unit. General Practitioners, the Irish Family Planning Association and the Well Woman Clinic are expected provide the service.

Minister for Health Simon Harris described the contract agreement as a “significant step” in the preparations for the introduction of abortion services at the beginning of January. He added that it would enable the Health Service Executive to offer the contract in sufficient time for doctors to consider its terms and to inform the HSE if they wish to take it up.

The fee associated with the contract, which encompasses three GP visits, is €450.

In a separate statement, the Irish Medical Organisation described it as “a stand-alone contract”, allowing each GP to make an individual choice on whether or not to provide the service. It says any GP who holds a conscientious objection “will not be in any way compelled to participate in the contract.”

The IMO says it recognises the difficult decision faced by many doctors in this regard and at all times it sought to ensure respect for the views of individual members, as to whether they wished to offer these services or not in line with the provisions of the Medical Council guidelines in respect of matters of conscience.

Asked if it could be described as an opt-in for GPs, a spokesperson for the Minister for Health insisted that there was no change in policy.

Around three-quarters of GPs said during a consultation with the Irish College of General Practitioners that they would not be providing the service. Some of the GPs may do so later, depending on workload. One-third said they would definitely be providing it.

Report stage of the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill is due to begin in the Dáil next week.

Irish Independent. November 13. RTÉ. November 14.