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People at the SOS meeting today SOS

"We're victims of medical negligence" - Symphysiotomy survivors reject mediation

One of the groups representing survivors says the system proposed by James Reilly “seeks to buy their silence”.

SOME SURVIVORS OF symphysiotomy procedures have said they will not engage with a mediation scheme which they say “seeks to buy their silence”.

Survivors of Symphysiotomy – one of three groups representing women who had the barbaric procedure performed on them – held an emergency general meeting in Dublin today to discuss a proposal from Minister for Health James Reilly to undergo a negotiated mediation rather than go through the courts for redress. The group say the scheme is exploitative and they do not want to be involved in it.

A spokesperson for the group said the process is comparable to that used for the Magdalene survivors, and denies women their rights.

“To treat survivors of symphysiotomy as though they were Magdalenes is to refuse to acknowledge the truth – that our members were victims of medical negligence,” said chair Marie O’Connor. “They were betrayed by the medical professionals in whom they placed their trust at a most vulnerable time of their lives.”

She said that the proposal is based on the draft findings of the Walsh report into the practice which she said found that most of the operations were “medically acceptable”. “Victims will not allow themselves to be re-victimised by being forced to collude with the official line that symphysiotomy was acceptable medical practice,” she said.

“To pretend that survivors are not victims of medical negligence allows the government to refuse to compensate them for their injuries and deny survivors access to the courts,” she said.

Two other survivor groups – Patient Focus and SOS Ltd have indicated that they are in favour of the mediation, saying it could be less traumatic and time consuming.

“All the signs are that this is a scheme that aims to buy victims’ silence in return for a sum of money that cannot be disclosed,” said O’Connor.

Survivors met with Minister for Health James Reilly at the start of this month for almost two hours but some were unhappy with his response.

The Minister said that the negotiated mediation by a judge rather than going through the courts would save time and money.

Read: Government condemned by symphysiotomy group for “underhand approach” >

Column: Don’t just blame the Catholic Church for symphysiotomies – blame the doctors >

Read: A history of symphysiotomy: the impact of Catholic ethics on Irish medicine >

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14 Comments
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    Mute Emer Caffrey
    Favourite Emer Caffrey
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    Jun 18th 2020, 12:50 PM

    Absolutely senseless crime, a wonderful man gone for no reason, tragic RIP

    539
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    Mute Canyon
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    Jun 18th 2020, 4:17 PM

    @Emer Caffrey: Gemma O Doherty tweeted about it….she is some piece of work…

    20
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    Mute Chrissy Beanz
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    Jun 18th 2020, 1:17 PM

    I would just like to say; Last night, when YOU were sleeping soundly in your bed in our sanctuary which is the well-policed Republic of Ireland, Colm Horkan gave his life for YOU. In honor of that sacrifice and to acknowledge the mettle and gallantry of all our Gardai, it is time for YOU to KNEEL and PRAY.
    Chris Buchan

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    Mute Negan
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    Jun 18th 2020, 1:23 PM

    @Chrissy Beanz: not a time to be forcing your religious values on others Chris.

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    Mute Ed Kelly
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    Jun 18th 2020, 1:29 PM

    @Chrissy Beanz: we can pay our respects without kneeling and praying but each to their own I guess.

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    Mute Daniel Andrews
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:01 PM

    @Chrissy Beanz: what will praying do?

    43
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:52 PM

    To the nit-picking simpletons: you should acknowledge the man’s sacrifice before you throw up your precious little quibbles.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jun 18th 2020, 3:43 PM

    @Chrissy Beanz: My deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues at this time. What a self serving thing to say, to use this poor man’s death to further your religious agenda. You ought to be ashamed.

    22
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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    Jun 18th 2020, 4:35 PM

    @Martello Mulligan: I’m sure guards don’t sign up to sacrifice anything for anyone. We have a relatively peaceful country, and no one should be expected to be killed. The nonsense being put out there is as if we’re living in constant fear or a way zone. Until we know better, this was an accident, and we need to stop the calls for capital punishment until the facts emerge.

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    Mute Martello Mulligan
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    Jun 18th 2020, 5:26 PM

    @Brynþór Patrekursson: an accident??? Who said guards sign up for sacrifice??? Focus, my friend.

    5
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    Mute Seomra Ban
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    Jun 18th 2020, 6:05 PM

    @Brynþór Patrekursson: a 5 shot accident?

    6
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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    Jun 18th 2020, 1:25 PM

    Absolutely horrific crime, there should be only one sentence for capital murder, and its not the one that wastes tax payers money year after year

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    Mute Nolan Spare
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:10 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: Probably will only be charged with manslaughter.

    21
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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 18th 2020, 12:53 PM

    Shocking alright…..some lunatics out there

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Jun 18th 2020, 1:10 PM

    Omg how awful, his poor family. God love him. Rip.

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    Mute Robbie Graham
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:03 PM

    Incredibly sad and scarcely believable. Condolences to his family, friends and community. RIP Garda Horkan.

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    Mute Nioe
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:35 PM

    Terrible news. Hopefully his needless loss will be a turning point when the justice system starts to stand up against crime and protect our citizens.

    The law has for too long protected the criminals and this coin has gone lawless.

    Guaranteed whoever committed this crime has a massive criminal record and would not be on the streets if there was a functional justice system with proper sentencing….

    RIP

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    Mute Jane Alford
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:35 PM

    It’s beyond time where firearms are designed to only able to be fired by the individual the gun is signed out to. The grips need to be digitized. The technology is available, about time it is used.

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    Mute John J. Smith
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:48 PM

    @Jane Alford: The Gardai have always been under resourced and even some stations haven’t even a computer or wiFi. It would be unlikely that money would be allocated for your excellent idea.

    26
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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    Jun 18th 2020, 4:37 PM

    @John J. Smith: detective Horkan was last year supporting calls for increased spend on tazers and vests. Ironically, it would have saved his life.

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    Mute Seán Maguire
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    Jun 18th 2020, 2:32 PM

    Terrible tragedy condolences to his family, colleagues and community.

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    Mute Liam McGrath
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    Jun 19th 2020, 2:34 AM

    Patrick heard 5 shots, not a very credible witness, because it was later reported that there was 15 shots fired. I think he’s telling porkies.

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