Findings of Research Study looking at the experiences of clinicians providing early medical abortion in primary care settings in Ireland, by Prof Mary Donnelly and Dr Claire Murray, revealed.

14 Oct 2024

The important findings of a research study on abortion services in Ireland conducted by Prof Mary Donnelly and Dr Claire Murray from the School of Law received coverage in the Examiner over the weekend. 'You owe this service to your patients': Doctors tell of providing abortion care in UCC study (irishexaminer.com)

The study, funded by the IRC New Foundations scheme and with the support of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), focused on the experiences of clinicians providing early medical abortion in primary care settings following the legalisation of abortion in Ireland in 2019. Prof Donnelly and Dr Murray note that the ‘study highlights the ongoing link between a moral commitment to women’s autonomy and health and the decision to provide early medical abortion in primary care settings following the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.’ They also emphasise that overall, the experiences of those providing abortion care has been extremely positive, with the service becoming increasingly normalised as part of family and reproductive medicine in primary care.

Further detail on the study is available in an open access article in Health Care Analysis, ‘Choosing to Provide: Early Medical Abortion and Clinician Conscience in Ireland,’ available here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10728-024-00490-2”