MEDICAL REACTION: A psychiatrist who supported the amendment has accused "so-called pro-life No campaigners" of creating confusion which could ultimately lead to legalised abortion.
Prof Patricia Casey, who campaigned for a Yes vote and issued a statement with another prominent psychiatrist, Prof Anthony Clare, saying that psychiatry had no role in abortion, told The Irish Times: "It is ironic that those most opposed to abortion are now responsible for the introduction of legalised abortion into the Republic.
"The tactic of so-called pro-life No campaigners in generating confusion has been despicable but unfortunately was leapt upon and fuelled by those who would wish for abortion to be legislated for in the State."
The professor of psychiatry at UCD added that as a consequence of the result, psychiatry was in danger of prostituting itself.
The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which had supported the referendum proposal, expressed disappointment with the result. Its chairman, Prof John Bonnar, said the majority of his members would be disappointed with the result but he fully accepted what the people had said.
His personal belief was that another referendum would not provide any guidance on the issue.
Politicians would have to decide the best way to deal with the issue, Prof Bonnar said. Society appeared to be split 50-50 on the issue. The institute opposed legislation to allow abortion on the grounds of a suicide threat on the basis that it "would inevitably result in social abortion in Ireland".
Prof Tom O'Dowd, professor of general practice in Trinity College Dublin, who highlighted the issue of confidentiality of medical records during the campaign said: "This is good news and legislation must follow to regularise the issues which came up during the campaign."
He added: "We need clarity on matters such as severe congenital abnormality, suicide and rape. Doctors need to wake up to the dangers that legislators have doctor-patient confidentiality in their sights and they need to be vigilant about this."
Dr Berry Kiely, a spokeswoman for Doctors for Life, said the group was very disappointed with the result. "The immediate issue is for all sides to get behind the crisis pregnancy agency and to do what we can to reduce the numbers of women travelling abroad for abortion."
Dr Juliet Bressan, spokeswoman for Doctors for Choice, said: "This is a huge victory for Irish women and a victory for reproductive rights. It is clearly a pro-choice result."
Mr Hugh Bredin, a Galway urologist and a spokesman for a group of doctors on the Medical Council who challenged the council's alteration of its ethical guideline last summer, said they were disappointed. "We feel that the foetus is still well-protected by the Constitution and that this vote will not necessarily lead to widespread termination of pregnancy. If suicide is to be legislated for it will be difficult to prove that a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother exists."
Dr Seán Daly, Master of the Coombe Women's Hospital, refused to comment on the outcome. Dr Daly, along with the Masters of the other two Dublin maternity hospitals, Dr Declan Keane of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and Dr Michael Geary of the Rotunda, had jointly called for a Yes vote, citing the need to protect current medical practices.