Not a credible position for Irish medical organisations to simply wring their hands and issue statements
Dear Editor,
We are a group of doctors of different specialty backgrounds from the UCG class of 1984. We have been trying to do what we can about the situation in Gaza.
Our particular focus is on the deliberate targeting of medical workers and the destruction of healthcare infrastructure. In mid-June we wrote to the Irish colleges of surgeons, physicians and psychiatrists as well as the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association. All had made statements deploring what has been going on in Gaza.
However, our letter asked that these organisations would go further than this. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) is the body responsible for training, and seems to be the main representative association of Israeli doctors. It has been shamefully silent on the genocide being perpetrated by its government and military.
We had asked that these Irish organisations would challenge the IMA about its stance, and would consider severing any academic or other ties it had with this and other Israeli groups. We received replies only from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (which did detail some of the practical assistance it provides) and from the IHCA.
However, none of them has taken up our suggestion. Following the declaration of famine in Gaza we wrote again recently. We explained our view that it was simply not a credible position for these organisations which profess leading roles in representation, ethics, education and academia in Irish medicine to simply wring their hands and issue statements.
We had provided some evidence that external pressure is having some effect in Israel and are disappointed (to put it as mildly and politely as we can) at the inaction of the bodies to whom we wrote.
We have decided to write to your publication to draw this to the attention of the various members and graduates in the hope that they would, in turn, make contact and request, even demand, that something practical which might have a real effect would be done or at the very least be discussed by the various councils.
Actions speak louder than words and we believe that our stance and requests are in line with majority opinion in this country, and that these colleges and organisations are failing to represent this. We call on all our medical colleagues to join us in putting pressure on our medical colleges and representative organisations to take practical action and challenge their Israeli counterparts.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Laura Barker, Dr Alexandra Duncan, Dr Ann Marie Connolly, Dr Margaret Connolly, Dr Susan Finnerty, Dr Siobhan Graham, Dr Grace Kenny, Dr Regina Kernan, Mr Dermot Lanigan, Dr Brian Lennon, and Dr Chris Rozario.
