A furious NHS consultant confronted anti-abortion protesters outside a maternity ward at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Pro-life campaigners from Texas based religious group 40 Days for Life set up a "prayer vigil" outside of the medical facility which offers abortion services, on Wednesday morning.
Dr Greg Irwin, who was on his lunch break, clashed with four campaigners and branded their demonstration "harassment" and told them they were upsetting patients.
The medic asked the group to leave the area as they held up banners reading ‘Don’t be coerced into abortion’ with images of foetuses.
He told the group: “You are upsetting my patients and you are upsetting my staff.
“What you are doing is very unkind and I would like you to stop what you are doing.
“I know you acting out in Christian faith, which says we should love one another.
“You are not being loving to these people. You are not showing them the respect that they deserve.
“You need to stop coming to my hospital, this is not fair.”
The campaigners ignored the NHS worker's pleas.
40 Days For Life plan to operate daily protests outside of medical facilities offering abortions until April 2, with their 400 Scotland-based volunteers.
Similar protests have taken place outside other medical centres which offer abortion services across Scotland.
The protest was led by activist Rose Docherty, from Bishopbriggs, who previously told the Record she was recruited by the religious group 'through the pro-life grapevine'. She claimed the group stand across from facilities offering to 'help' women who she believes may be 'coerced' into abortion.
She refused to interact with the Record.
During their ‘vigil of prayer’ a motor slowed down and a driver heckled: “F**k off you bunch of lunatics”.
Similar protests have taken place outside other medical centres which offer abortion services across Scotland.
Lucy Grieve, co-founder of Back Off Scotland, a group campaigning for harassment-free buffer zones around clinics, described the scenes as “unfair”.
She said: "These protests need to stop - they are causing untold levels of harm to patients and medical staff across Scotland. We have heard from hundreds of women who have been adversely affected by them, and it's not fair that they are unable to access healthcare free from harassment. The protesters keep talking about their right to freedom of speech - but what about a patient's right to medical privacy? We need legislation to be brought forward immediately to put an end to this."
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It’s harrowing to see another 40-day anti-abortion protest gearing up in Scotland.
“This is being dressed up as prayer, but we know it’s bad for the privacy and wellbeing of women.
“The Scottish Government knew this was coming, yet no additional safeguards are in place to protect those accessing vital healthcare services.
“Testimonies gathered by Back Off Scotland have revealed the traumatising and long-lasting effects of clinic harassment.
“We wouldn’t put up with this in any other health setting.
“The Scottish Government must ensure the legal right to abortion care is accessed without intimidation or harassment.
“With every other UK nation pushing ahead with safe access zone legislation, I hope this will be a wakeup call for the Scottish Government to introduce these measures as soon as possible.”
“Nicola Sturgeon has said the right things in support of Gillian Mackay’s Member’s Bill, but it will be down to a new First Minister to oversee the legislation. All SNP leadership candidates must commit to making buffer zone law a priority.”
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "Our number one priority is the safety and security of our patients and staff. The site, targeted by protesters, offers a full range of healthcare services.
"As a healthcare provider we firmly believe all our patients should be free to attend for treatment and our staff should be able to deliver care without fear or intimidation."
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “There is no place for this in modern Scotland. It is unacceptable for women to face any fear of harassment or intimidation when accessing essential healthcare services and we have committed to support Gillian Mackay MSP with her Member’s Bill which will deliver national legislation on Safe Access Zones. We are working at pace to ensure this legislation can be introduced to parliament as soon as possible.
“People have a right to protest in a democracy, however, no one has the right to intimidate or impede women's right to access healthcare. The Scottish Government believes protests should be held in a more appropriate place, such as outside parliament.”
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