11.12.2014: PLC accuses HSE of facilitating a cover up of life-endangering practices

11.12.2014: PLC accuses HSE of facilitating a cover up of life-endangering practices
The Pro Life Campaign has strongly criticised the HSE report into state-funded crisis pregnancy counselling services which was made available today.
The HSE audit was commissioned following an undercover investigation in 2012 which revealed disturbing practices at certain taxpayer-funded crisis pregnancy counselling agencies.
The exposé included evidence that Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) run clinics were telling women to lie to their doctors and say they had a miscarriage and not an abortion in the case of post-abortion complications.  The IFPA were also coaching women on how to illegally import abortion pills to self-administer without any medical supervision.
Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said:
“The mild way in which the report refers to these horrendous practices with no suggestion of any sanctions for the counselling agencies involved is of very grave concern and shows that the HSE has not given this issue the attention it deserves. The stance of the HSE to date has been to ignore the wrongdoing exposed.  By failing to strongly condemn the practices at IFPA-run clinics, the HSE is sending out a message that it is okay for counselling agencies to encourage women to lie to their doctors and to falsify medical records.  This is in effect facilitating a cover up of life-endangering practices”
“Women in crisis pregnancy deserve better from the HSE and state-funded agencies”, Cora Sherlock concluded.
ENDS