Inquiries by the Life Institute have revealed that an Irish Times report which claimed that "over half of doctors support abortion" doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
The newspaper article publicised a survey which had been carried out by newly-qualified GP, Dr Mark Murphy, who, as we had previously reported, recently called for Irish Aid to fund measures to reduce birth rates in the developing world. The survey asked GPs about their opinion on, and experience of, what it described as 'termination of pregnancy'.
An Irish Times headline described the results of the survey as indicating that "Over half of doctors support abortion".
Spokeswoman for the Life Institute, Niamh Ui Bhriain, said that the newspaper headline was "thoroughly misleading" and that the article was written to create a false impression of support for abortion amongst Irish medical practitioners.
"Firstly, the survey was confined to General Practitioners, and did not survey all doctors. Crucially, it did not survey Obstetricians or Gynaecologists who are the medical experts in this area," said Ms Uí Bhriain.
"Secondly, the Irish Times report gave the impression that responses to the survey were received from 750 GPs and GPs in training," she continued.
"But that was not the case. In fact, according to the presentation Dr Murphy himself made in Sligo, only 218 GPs and 106 GPs in training responded, hardly a significant number. Half of that amount indicated support for abortion, a less significant number again."
Ms Uí Bhriain also criticised the design of the survey pointing out that she had seen what was circulated by Dr Murphy and that "One of the options for consideration by respondents was that "termination of pregnancy should only be allowed in very limited circumstances (such as with 'a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother')".
"But leading Irish medical experts, such as the then Chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr John Bonnar, have already publicly testified that such legitimate treatment to save a mothers' life is never considered abortion, since the objective is not to harm or kill the baby."
"We should not play word games with issues of great national, and personal, importance. Mothers and babies deserve better," she concluded.
Category | Abortion : Ireland
Published By | Life Institute
Comments on this post:
Comments(8)
Maria on Nov 26, 2011 6:04pm
I knew that this was nonsense the moment I read it!
Gerard on Nov 27, 2011 1:21pm
Good job on this YD
lori ann kleist on Nov 27, 2011 1:48pm
great job on this and I will kepp you and Ireland in prayer for the continuance of seeing the sanctity of life for all!
BJ on Nov 30, 2011 1:31pm
Can you get Irish Times to print clarification or carry this response, or get RTE to comment on claim counter claim? I doubt it!
Brian Ó C on Nov 30, 2011 1:39pm
I can't believe Murphy was quoting Thomas Malthus, you couldn't get a more discredited economist. Malthus said the world would run out of food by 1850! Its amazing how the more idiotic your idea is in economics, the more popular you seem to become.
JIM OSULLIVAN Novemer 30th on Nov 30, 2011 2:50pm
The ill-informed Dr Murphy need to view the stunning short video by Dr Alex Tsiaras Chief of Scientific Visualisation at Yale Uiniversity.Can be seen at www.life-site news.com/blog/amazingvideo. He will change his erroneous views pronto.A must see.
kev on Dec 4, 2011 1:22am
if you need a doctor of any sort, as far as possible, use one known to you, who is prolife. Don't give your hard earned money or custom, or health, to pro abort propagandists, medical or otherwise. Vote with your money.
Brendan on Dec 10, 2011 1:54pm
Perhaps its time for doctors who are Pro-life to make that fact known and for us patients to affirm those doctors by supporting them. We need to educate and lobby 'Pro-choice' doctors who believe it is ok to end a live at either end of the sprctrum and to remind them that they are not fit to practice. I
n America there has been a successful campaign to draw attention to 'pro-choice' doctors. These doctors are really just the equivalent of a 'hit-man' - they take money in exchange for extinguishing a life. They do not like any unnecessary attention to be drawn to this that might affect their legitimate business. Many have ceased to do abortions or refer women for abortions once a light has been shone on their destructive anti-child, anti-woman practices.