THE LACK of national guidelines for obstetrics and gynaecology is being highlighted at a two-day conference at the Coombe hospital in Dublin.
While there are international guidelines, and maternity hospitals have their own protocols, there is no set of national guidelines to ensure a consistent approach to complex obstetric and gynaecological care issues.
Master of the Coombe, Dr Chris Fitzpatrick, said national guidelines would ensure a greater consistency.
He said the Coombe hospital and the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Trinity College had decided to organise the conference to assist in the development of national guidelines.
Dr Fitzpatrick said hospitals were constantly renewing their guidelines and carrying out audits, but a national set of guidelines would ensure a uniformity of approach on complex issues.
The conference is examining issues such as protocols surrounding the manual removal of the placenta, surgical interventions and the use of certain drugs.
Today’s session will discuss the management of mothers who refuse blood or blood product transfusions for religious or other reasons.
The courts have seen a series of legal challenges in recent years, after hospitals sought court orders to overrule objections to blood transfusions by members of the Jehovah’s Witness community or their families. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Bible prohibits the transfusion of blood. Patients have a statutory right to refuse treatment and are not obliged to undergo procedures that are contrary to their religious beliefs.
Today’s conference will hear patients’ perspectives on the issue, as well as a legal perspective on issues surrounding consent and the refusal of treatment.
