In an online petition called “Halt Judge Harding Clarke's proposal to shred Symphysiotomy records after March 20th 2016”, the Survivors of Symphysiotomy organisation urge the Taoiseach and Minister for Health to stop the proposal to shred medical records.
Symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure where cartilage of the ‘pubic symphysis’ is cut in order to widen the pelvis during childbirth. This procedure is rarely performed in developed countries now as it carries the risks of urethral and bladder injury, fistulas, infection, pain and long-term walking difficulty.
According to Dr Oonagh Walsh, “it is estimated that 1,500 women unknowingly and without consent underwent symphysiotomies during childbirth in the Republic of Ireland between 1944-1984.”
A 2012 Department of Health report found that policies limiting contraception and sterilisation influenced the use of the procedure.
The petition states: “The documents belie the official view that symphysiotomy was done mainly as an emergency procedure and that the operation was safe. Ireland was the only country in the developed world in the mid- to late-20th century to practise symphysiotomy as a preferred or non-emergency procedure.”
“The records the assessor proposes to destroy after March 20th constitute an overwhelming body of evidence of human rights abuses.”
Understandably, legal challenges made by survivors will be made much more difficult as the destruction of these documents could frustrate judicial review.
“The practice of symphysiotomy represents a dark chapter in the lives of Irishwomen in the last century. Irretrievable primary sources are at risk.”
The destruction of these documents would "compound the silencing of symphysiotomy survivors."
Survivors of Symphysiotomy started this petition two days ago and have received over 1,000 signatures.
There are four days left.
