‘Harmful Advice Is Reprehensible In The Extreme’

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After listening with mounting horror to the details of the “advice” from a so-called crisis pregnancy advice clinic, I was horrified to read that Minister for Children Katherine Zappone was merely “considering” regulation of these clinics and that Minister for Health Simon Harris and the HSE are powerless to regulate or prosecute, and must instead compete with these unsupervised agencies.

I hope it would be agreed by everyone that people in such vulnerable situations deserve accurate and unbiased information, and that the provision of blatantly false and harmful advice is unacceptable and reprehensible in the extreme. The time for acceptance of this inaction is long since passed, and these departments must act now to stop others from suffering.

Dr Mark O’Loughlin,
Clinical Lecturer,
Registrar in Histopathology,
Galway University Hospital.

Pregnancy counselling and regulation (Irish Times letters page)

Previously: Behind The Blue Door

Related: Women’s Centre may have broken the law, says Harris (The Times Ireland edition, Ellen Coyne)

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60 thoughts on “‘Harmful Advice Is Reprehensible In The Extreme’

      1. Daisy Chainsaw

        They didn’t advertise as “prolife”. They advertised as a crisis pregnancy agency offering impartial advice and information. Instead they scaremonger and lie to terrorise women into not having an abortion. They’re also connected to an illegal adoption ring so they would probably offer adoption services and then sell the baby on.

        By the way, there’s no such thing as an “unborn baby”

        1. ReproBertie

          I’m agreeing with you Daisy. I’m just pointing out that their priority, hidden behind their impartial caring facade, is never the woman in crisis. Love them both is a sham.

        1. Daisy Chainsaw

          Because Doctors O’Reilly and Varadkar did such a sterling job when they had health! It’s not just the ministers being rubbish, it’s the advisors and senior civil servants who’ve been there since the year dot who are the problem.

  1. John Jo Jo-Jo

    That is vile!
    What is with people who are supposed to be in a position of trust in this pooey country preying on people at their most vulnerable? In 2016 I cannot fathom how this is still occurring.
    Imagine her having that conversation with countless other women. She’s probably there this morning doling out that ridiculous rhetoric to someone. It’s disgusting.

    This country really is rotten at the core.

  2. Eric Cartman

    Considering the current legal status of abortion in Ireland, would any regulation of pregnancy councelling/ crisis services have to either not mention abortion or detail its illegality ?

    Saying that an agency is required by the state to give accurate information , when the state believes “a foetus is a full human being ” to be accurate information might just lead to censoring the much needed agencies.

    Im all for repealing the 8th and think these people are awful , but calling for regulation of this sector could easily backfire.

    1. fluffybiscuits

      No because the information was read into the Dail record years and ago and as far as I understand this means that as it is public information such information was then deemed to be not illegal.

      1. Eric Cartman

        could the same be said for the swill these ilk are peddling ?
        could they get an anti-choice TD to stand up in the dail and say these or similar things and have it recorded under the same basis.

  3. bisted

    …Zappone, Harris and the HSE could opt for a new Irish solution…abortion on demand…with a nine month waiting list…

      1. newsjustin

        Hi guys.

        For what it’s worth I don’t think these kind of unbiased but biased advice centres should be encouraged. I don’t know if there’s is an easy way to stop them though. I guess anyone can offer advice on anything once they’re not claiming to be anything they’re not…individually I mean….eg Chartered XYZ, Qualified ABC, etc.

    1. Zuppy International

      Zuppy has been (effectively) banned from debate.

      Too many truth bombs for the progressives to cope with (I suppose).

      If they would like to explain in public why they have decided to restrict/prevent my access to debate then I’m happy to consider their reasons.

      Otherwise, they’re a shower of poo-poos.

      [I made a post earlier, it was to be my only one today]

          1. manonfire

            All my posts are being censored because somebody didnt like my opinion

            It kicked off yesterday

            Zuppy in same boat

  4. nellyb

    Law aside, I have to say – impetus is on women, if it is not a teen or vulnerable person’s pregnancy. Women with common sense and wits go to a doctor for medical information. That’s as qualified advice as one can get, no brainer.
    But if modern women chose religiously backed advisory service – it’s their responsibility to understand what comes with it or seek second opinion. Sorry, girls, but that one is firmly on you.

    1. Dόn 'The Unstoppable Force' Pídgéόní

      Unless you can’t afford a doctor appt or don’t know the truth about these services – they don’t advertise that they lie.

      1. The Real Jane

        Indeed. Talk about blaming the victim. These places advertise themselves as neutral sources of advice, not religious loonbags with an agenda.

        1. nellyb

          When you buy a service or goods – do you buy what the first ad showed you? Most people bother with research. Mistakes are made, but we get better at avoiding. Checking and cross checking is what women do, even when they prepare kids school lunches. Why would they not cross check such fundamental thing as impact of potential pregnancy termination?
          You’re playing right into the hands of pro-life – we are gullible dears with no reasoning skills, therefore can’t be trusted with decision making. Victims. Well, I am not. And neither are you.

          1. The Real Jane

            Nor am I a vulnerable young person who doesn’t know where to turn. How do you research these things? I mean, is there a directory of these places where some are reviewed as neutral and honest and others as disingenuous and mendacious?

            In any event, I don’t think attendance at a counselling service at a time of crisis should be considered a mark against a person being seen as capable and responsible.

          2. Don Pidgeoni

            There’s a reason doctors train for years in order to give you the best advice distilled from their knowledge and experience. You can’t just Google everything.

    2. pedeyw

      The problem here is claiming to be impartial and doing the opposite. There’s also a good chance if you’re seeking free advice like this it’s because you can’t afford the €65+ to go to a GP.

      1. The Real Jane

        Or you’re not sure that your family GP is properly confidential and may reveal your situation to someone who shouldn’t know, for one reason or another. You may be underage and not able to face speaking to your parents yet. You may be in an abusive relationship and don’t want your partner knowing because you need to not be tied to them legally forever.

        There are lots of reasons why you might not want to go to your GP.

        1. Nigel

          Or you might want some impartial help advice and information on options surrounding abortion and it’s flippin’ Ireland.

      2. newsjustin

        GP and other medical care is free for pregnant women, I think. Perhaps not the very first “Doctor I’m pregnant” visit.

    3. Bob

      And of course you ask for your doctors CV and qualifications, then research them before taking any of their advice…

    1. The Real Jane

      How does lying to vulnerable people help protect their rights? What other rights of vulnerable women are you keen to protect? Have you a manifesto of protection for vulnerable women that you’d like to share with us? I, for one, would be most interested to read it.

      1. The Real Jane

        Shocked and disappointed to have no answer here. One is forced to conclude that there is no programme of proposed protections for vulnerable women from the 8thers.

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      The real “anti-life” mob are the ones who would lie to a woman to force her to remain pregnant, even if the pregnancy could kill her. The types that support legislation that prioritises the hearbeat of a dying foetus over the life of a dying woman.

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