Expert: 12-week clause could be changed in event of medical breakthroughs

The Government’s proposed 12-week access abortion law that it wants to introduce if the Eighth Amendment is removed could be changed to take account of new medical breakthroughs in years to come, an expert has said.

The chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG), Peter Boylan, made the claim at a Fine Gael pro-choice launch on the medical harm caused by the Eighth Amendment.

Speaking to reporters as two rural ministers known to have concerns about potential law changes said they are “coming around” to the idea, Dr Boylan said that while the 12-week proposal remains high-profile, it may be changed in the future.