Crisis pregnancies: GPs with a conscientious objection to abortion are being warned that they must not use "unprofessional means" to discourage a patient from seeking an abortion abroad, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent
In a guide to be published at its annual meeting in Galway this weekend, the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) says family doctors should try to counsel a woman with a crisis pregnancy in "a balanced and non-threatening manner".
The guide, written by Dr Rita Galimberti and Dr Ailis Ní Riain of the ICGP Woman's Health Programme, specifically warns doctors not to use the consultation to condemn abortion on moral grounds.
Nor must they threaten to withhold further medical care from the woman contemplating a termination of pregnancy, "or make her circumstances known to family, employers, friends or others".
GPs are advised that conscientious objection to abortion, which is allowed for by both the Medical Council and the 1995 Regulation of Information Act, does not allow them to cause any delay which increases the medical risk to a patient. Other unprofessional approaches include withholding important medical records and inducing fear "by spurious information about methods [of abortion\], side effects, future fertility or psychiatric illness".
The publication, which has been funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, is one of a series of resources being developed by it to help improve management of crisis pregnancy.
Although there is no research evidence to suggest family doctors are acting in an unethical manner in their treatment of women contemplating an abortion, The Irish Times understands there is a concern that the 10 per cent of GPs known to have a conscientious objection to pregnancy termination be made fully aware of their duty of care to patients experiencing a crisis pregnancy.
Asked about the need for the guide, Dr Ní Riain said the publication was an attempt to promote a more holistic approach to crisis pregnancy. "It was felt there was a need to update our 1996 publication on crisis pregnancy as well as including recent information in the area of emergency contraception.
"It is important that women who find themselves in this crisis situation get informed support right through from making decisions, to the implementation of their decision to aftercare in primary care," Dr Ní Riain said.
The guide includes information for patients, on emergency contraception and termination of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a pro-choice doctors group has published its own guide to the management of the abortion patient.
The "Doctors for Choice" guide contains practical advice for doctors, including how to write a letter for a woman seeking abortion abroad and the post abortion care of a patient.