Dutch abortion figures ‘understated’

LOUISE CAFFREY (Letters, December 29 incorrectly stated that the Netherlands has one of the lowest abortion rates in the EU.

According to 2005 figures, the Netherlands has an abortion rate of 15.29% of live births. This is almost twice the reported abortion rate of Irish women.

In addition, the Dutch statistics are grossly understated because they do not include many early-term abortions which, bizarrely, are not considered abortions under Dutch law and there is no onus on doctors to report them.

It should be noted also that while the abortion rate continues to rise in the Netherlands, it is falling in Ireland.

The introduction of abortion in the Netherlands, as in all other jurisdictions, has led to a loss of respect for the dignity of human life born.

To seek to use the Netherlands as a role model for this country is erroneous in the extreme and does a great disservice to women in crisis pregnancy who need positive support from the community.

Eilís Grealy

PRO

Galway for Life

Ozanam House

St Augustine Street

Galway