Sir, The closure of a vasectomy clinic in Letterkenny by the North Western Health Board, reported by your correspondent (March 22nd), raises matters of widespread public interest. The clinic was shut two days after opening. It had been picketed by three doctors, citing pro life and religious objections.
The day before the opening, health board members objected to the establishment of a service without the express approval of the board. The board chairman reportedly said that the clinic should be suspended, since other services were badly needed in the area. The clinic's future has been referred to a board committee.
There are three important issues of public interest involved - First, the picketing. Sterilisation is lawful in Ireland; it is permitted by the Medical Council. The Medical Council guidelines on ethical conduct do not legitimise picketing by doctors. Provision of lawful medical services may have been frustrated by picketing. This may damage the reputation and role of the medical profession as a whole, in serving to protect the public's medical interests. Secondly, the health boards are required by law to administer health services, arguably on grounds of health and not religion.
Finally, the public interest, requires that the board now make explicit the grounds on which it has suspended the clinic, and for the board committee, upon considering the clinic's future, to do, likewise. Wider issues of public; accountability and of transparent" allocation of public resources are at stake.
In the same week in which your newspaper reported that there is more support in Ireland than in Europe as a whole for family planning services and information, including sterilisation (March 19th), it is incumbent on the board to provide reasoned and reasonable grounds for any further cessation of needed medical services.
Yours, etc.,
Downpatrick,
Co Down.