TWO Catholic doctors in Queensland have resigned from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) over its support for the controversial abortion drug RU486 – and more are likely to follow.
The two unidentified doctors are members of the Catholic Medical Guild of St Luke.
The guild’s president, Dr Terrence Kent, said last week the doctors had resigned from the AMA because of the organisation’s stance on RU486.
The Senate was expected to debate on February 9 whether the abortion pill will remain under the control of the Health Ministry or will be transferred to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the regulatory body that manages prescription drugs.
Dr Kent said a large percentage of the 200 doctors the guild represented were considering resigning from the AMA and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
He said AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal disgusted members with his comments to the Senate inquiry that suggested RU486 was safe.
In a statement on February 7 the guild challenged the recommendations in favour of RU486 and claimed it was a “human pesticide”, toxic to mother and child.
Meanwhile, Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher told the Senate inquiry that making more abortion methods available could spark a rise in the number of terminations.
