Doctors have called for a change in their representative organisation’s policy regarding terminations, and have proposed a number of motions for discussion. Some have claimed that routine general practice is not the appropriate setting for the provision of an abortion service. 

Some doctors want the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to adopt an opt-in system whereby GPs wanting to provide abortion services receive adequate training. Others have also called for the ICGP to support the right of all doctors to exercise freedom of conscience, with no obligation to refer patients for a termination.

The GPs who requested the EGM include doctors who voted yes in the recent referendum on removing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

Around 350 GPs have signed the petition. According to the college’s rules, a minimum of 10 per cent of members of “good standing” must sign an EGM request.

The board of the ICGP held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss its response to the request. 

Meanwhile, Dr Ruth Cullen from the Pro-Life Campaign appealed to the public to continue talking to their local TDs, encouraging them to support the amendments during the Committee and Report stage debates. 

“No matter how your TD voted at Second Stage, these amendments are reasonable and humane and recent Amárach [the market research organisation] research shows that even many Yes voters support them,” she wrote.

The ICGP is due to gve a decision on the request for an EGM tonight.