Doctors have now voted twice in 5 weeks against Government's abortion plans

The Life Institute has said that the decision of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to vote against abortion legislation is 'hugely significant' and pointed out that doctors have now voted for the second time in five weeks to oppose the Government's proposal on abortion.

A Spokesman said that it was "especially important to note that an original motion put to the ICGP conference which supported the Government's proposed abortion bill was rejected by doctors."

"Doctors rejected a motion supporting the current abortion proposal, since it is, frankly, unworkable and unacceptable, and then adopted a motion which called for guidelines to provide clarity for doctors instead."

"This means that, for the second time in 5 weeks, doctors have voted down legalising abortion on suicide grounds. So when is the Government going to start listening to the medical experts on this issue," he asked.

Instead an amended motion was adopted by the ICGP which calls on the government to "introduce clarity in the law founded on evidence based medical guidelines where there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother".

The amended motion was passed by 60 votes to 48.

"Last month, when doctors at the conference of the Irish Medical Organisation voted against abortion legislation, doctors who support abortion legislation refused to accept the result, and sought to have a motion supporting abortion passed at the ICGP conference, but that has failed too," he said.

He said that much had been made of a survey carried out by a member of the small grouping Doctor's for Choice , which claimed that 85% of GPs supported the provision of abortion. 

"Clearly, the fact that doctors have voted down motions calling for X-case legislation for the second time in 5 weeks show that GPs do not support the provision of abortion," he continued. 

He called on an Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to listen to the medical experts who had repeatedly rejected the proposal. "Some 113 psychiatrists have also opposed the inclusion of suicide in the legislation, and Mr Kenny now appears to be responding only to political concerns and not medical requirements."