The Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SOS) group has reiterated that it will not cooperate with Helath Minister James Reilly's proposed mediation scheme for the victims of this obstetric procedure, branding it 'exploitative.'

Speaking after an emergency general meeting of Survivors of Symphysiotomy in Dublin, Chairperson Marie O'Connor said the 'so-called mediation process is the prelude to a Magdalene style scheme based on an untruth that denies survivors their legal and constitutional rights and seeks to buy their silence.'

"To treat  survivors of symphysiotomy as though they were Magdalenes is to refuse to acknowledge the truth - that our members were victims of medical negligence. They were betrayed by the medical professionals in whom they placed their trust at a most vulnerable time of their lives."

The pelvis-widening symphysiotomy operation was carried out in Ireland on many women giving birth between the 1940s and 1980s. It had long ceased to be used in other countries while it continued to take place in Ireland.

Many women experienced severe after-effects from the procedure, including chronic pain and incontinence.

Marie O'Connor said Minister Reilly's approach weas presumably based on the Walsh report, now a year overdue.

"The draft report, which was widely discredited, found that nearly all of these operations were medically acceptable. To base a scheme on this flawed foundation is a recipe for untruth and injustice."

"Victims will not allow themselves to be re-victimised by being forced to collude with the  official line that symphysiotomy was acceptable medical practice,", Ms O'Connor said.

"To require survivors to engage with the State Claims Agency without independent legal and medical suport is grossly unfair and manifestly unjust."

The SOS support group is seeking negotiated settlements for the symphysiotomy victims, rather than the proposed mediation system between the women inmvolved and the hospitsls that treated them, presided over by a judge.

How, two other support groups have indicated they are in favour of the mediation system.