Abortion regime will continue to be restrictive, says junior minister

Ireland’s abortion regime will continue to be restrictive despite allowing for terminations when a woman is suicidal, a junior minister has said.

Alex White gave the assurance as psychiatric consultants — led by University College Dublin Prof Patricia Casey — warned there is no medical evidence to prove that an abortion can successfully treat a suicidal patient.

The legislation is to be examined by the Cabinet next week.

Amid the continuing dispute over the need for six doctors to assess a woman’s request for a termination on suicide grounds, Mr White said progress was being made on the reforms.

“The legislation that will be brought in will be quite restrictive in the context of the X case judgment. It’s important to remember that the legislation will still mean we have a very restrictive regime in Ireland in relation to the termination of pregnancy.

“We want to put safeguards into that legislation, but don’t want to put in any kind of excessive or inordinate obstacles to the exercise by a woman of what is a constitutional right.”

The Coalition held talks on the bill as the group of concerned psychiatrists revealed up to 40% of their colleagues agree that legislating for the X case will mean legislating for suicidal ideation.

Dr Bernie McCabe of Navan Mental Health Services, urged the Government to consider concerns that the proposed changes in law will not help expectant women in the case of threatened suicide.

Dr McCabe, Prof Casey, and colleagues Martin Mahon and Richelle Kirrane spoke out at the gates of Leinster House before they addressed cross-party TDs and senators.

At the same time, Health Minister James Reilly, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Mr White, and his fellow junior minister Kathleen Lynch were debating differences of opinion on the bill which states a panel of six consultants would be involved in the decision to terminate a pregnancy.

It is understood the legislation states that one obstetrician and two psychiatrists would jointly certify there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the pregnant woman’s life from self-destruction which can only be averted by a termination.

Another obstetrician and two psychiatrists would have to certify they are of the same opinion.

However, the consultants would not comment on whether they believed other psychiatrists would refuse to sit on a panel to assess a suicidal woman for an abortion, or on fears suicide could be used as an excuse by women wanting a termination.

Dr McCabe stressed a pregnant woman, like any suicidal person, would be assessed, admitted, and given psychotherapy or pharmacology depending on their need.

The group sent letters to 302 of the 350 consultant psychiatrists nationwide asking if they were concerned at the plan to legislate along the lines of the X case, and if they believed laws that included a proposal that an abortion should form part of the treatment for suicidal idea-tion had no basis in available medical evidence.

Only 42% responded. Dr McCabe said out of 127 replies, 113 agreed.

“The fact is that there is no evidence that abortion is a treatment for suicidality in pregnancy and may in fact be harmful to women,” she said.

“The Government must take this into account and reconsider its proposals.”