The following is the text of the statement from the 25 obstetricians/gynaecologists:
We the undersigned are practising obstetricians and members of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We write to dissociate ourselves from the Institute's support for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum.
The current referendum will not address any of the reproductive difficulties affecting the women (and men) that we deal with every day.
The final outcome of this referendum, be it a Yes or a No vote, will not in any way change the current status of the morning-after pill, intrauterine devices, IVF treatments, or pregnancies showing lethal or other serious fetal abnormalities.
A Yes vote will support current Obstetric practice with regard to critically ill pregnant women.
However, we question whether a referendum is necessary in this regard given that the mother's equal right to life is already enshrined in the Constitution and that in these rare cases, both mother and infant would die if the pregnancy were not terminated.
A No vote in this referendum would certainly not interfere with the Obstetrician's duty to do everything possible to preserve the lives of pregnant women.
A Yes vote will however outlaw abortion to save the life of a suicidal pregnant woman.
A Yes vote will also allow the State to demand sensitive information regarding women for whom life-saving abortions are carried out.
This would be a serious infringement of the Doctor-Patient relationship and of patient confidentiality.
This referendum is causing widespread confusion and uncertainty among all concerned.
Its effect on current medical practice in this country will be minimal. There will undoubtedly be a need for further debate on many issues, including those mentioned in paragraph two above.
Our Constitution is central to our national identity and integrity. Do we really want to alter it for so little gain, bearing in mind the genuine uncertainty and confusion that exists regarding the eventual outcome of the proposed alteration? We urge you to vote No.
Signed: Dr Peter Bourke, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; Dr Peter Boylan, Holles St Hospital, Dublin; Dr Paul Byrne, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; Dr Cathy Casey, Regional Hospital, Limerick; Dr Patricia Crowley, Coombe and Tallaght Hospitals, Dublin; Dr Michael Darling, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; Dr Anton Dempsey, Regional Hospital, Limerick; Dr Valerie Donnelly, Mount Carmel Hospital, Dublin; Dr Declan Egan, University College Hospital, Galway; Dr James Fallon, Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; Dr Ronan Gleeson, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; Dr Richard Greene, University College Hospital, Cork; Dr George Henry, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; Dr Carol Kinsella, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; Dr Peter Lenehan, Holles St Hospital, Dublin; Dr Victor Moore, Regional Hospital, Sligo; Prof John Morrison, University College Hospital, Galway; Dr Con Murphy, Regional Hospital, Wexford; Dr Mary McCaffrey, General Hospital, Tralee; Dr Tim O'Connor, University Hospital, Cork; Prof Colm O'Herlihy, Holles St Hospital Dublin and UCD; Prof Walter Prendiville, Coombe and Tallaght hospitals and College of Surgeons; Dublin Dr Mark Skeehan, Regional Hospital, Limerick, Dr Helen Spillane, Merrion Fertility Centre, Dublin and Dr Mary Wingfield, Holles St Hospital, Dublin.