Consultants seek ‘input’ in legal framework

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has called on the Government to allow it “active input” in framing legislation to allow for abortion in Ireland.

IOG chairman Robert Harrison said obstetricians and gynaecologists should be given such a role, as they were the medical professionals who would most directly be affected by legislation.

The IOG told the Oireachtas Health Committee it was aware of cases where pregnant women had been referred to Britain for abortion where there had been a risk, but not immediate one, to their lives due to legal uncertainties.

IOG recommended that two obstetricians or gynaecologists, as well as any number of specialists, should be involved in any decision to terminate a pregnancy — an option not made in the report by the expert group.

Fionnuala McAuliffe of the IOG said the opinion of one consultant would suffice in emergency cases. She told the committee she was not aware of any woman in Ireland who had died because of the legal vacuum.

However, she stressed the need for the introduction of a robust legal framework to provide greater certainty to medical professionals and patients.

The IOG also called for the repeal of 1861 legislation banning abortion in Ireland.

The committee heard the number of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists in Ireland had remained static at 120, despite a 40% rise in the number of births.

Meanwhile, the Irish Family Planning Association said medical professionals have had to “navigate grey areas of law” in the absence of legislation to clarify court rulings on abortion in Ireland.

Welcoming the Government’s decision to implement legislation to give effect to the A, B, C v Ireland judgement by the European Court of Human Rights, IFPA chief executive Niall Behan said he did not believe criminal law had impacted on abortion levels in the Republic.

However, he questioned the current distinction made in law between the life and the health of the mother. Mr Behan claimed Ireland was the only nation in Europe to make such a distinction.

He told the Oireachtas Health Committee the reasons why Irish women chose to terminate their pregnancy were “diverse, complex and decisions not taken lightly”.

The IFPA said 10% of women who attended their clinics had serious complications or underlying health problems.

Mr Behan said that while few women availed of IFPA services because of suicidal feelings, a small number of people had followed through on threats and taken their lives. He said he was aware of two failed suicide attempts by IFPA clients, with one of them citing restricted access to abortion as a reason.

He expressed hope that the proposed legislation would result in effective services becoming accessible to pregnant women.

Mr Behan said Irish women had been criminalised for travelling to Britain for abortion and he said they should have confidence that they would not be stigmatised for making such a decision.