We must avoid the barbaric solution of killing our children

WHY are we debating the abortion issue yet again? The majority of the Irish electorate have spoken clearly on this issue on a number of occasions.

I read the letters by RE Silvera and Desmond Fitzgerald (February 25). I find it difficult to see a coherent argument in either of them.

Both start off bemoaning the lack of abortion in Ireland and then ramble on about “backward morality”, contraception and, as usual, religion. In my opinion these have nothing to do with abortion.

I have been a doctor for 25 years and have never encountered a situation where I felt abortion could be ethically justified. I am not particularly religious and I have no issues with sex or the availability of contraception.

As far as I am aware, sex is alive and well in Ireland and contraception is freely available. So, for once, let us remove religion, sexual freedom and contraception from the debate and stick to the point. Is abortion justifiable or not? Clearly the majority of Irish people have said ‘no’.

Because I believe abortion is wrong and should not be available does not mean I am lacking in compassion with no interest in the plight of women in crisis pregnancies. I have great compassion for these women and feel that we need, individually and as a nation, to offer them as much support and help as possible.

I simply do not believe that aiding a vulnerable woman to kill her child is a reasonable solution. We all have freedom of choice over our own bodies, but not over the bodies of our children.

The unborn child or foetus is a separate human being who has the same civil right to life that we all enjoy. The child is no less deserving of our protection and support.

If we doubt that the foetus is a separate entity, then I am sure DNA analysis would clearly distinguish between mother and child. The phrase ‘right to choose’ is a loaded one at the best of times. The right to choose what? The right to choose how to treat our own bodies? Of course. The right to kill our children? Of course not.

And then there’s the tired old argument that ‘Irish women go to Britain in their thousands for terminations, therefore we should legalise abortion here’.

This makes no sense. We believe in Ireland that abortion is a breach of a child’s civil right to life. But because it is available in Britain, should we change our beliefs and laws here? Clearly not. We should instead lead by example, not follow like puppy dogs. We should support our mothers with crisis pregnancies to the best of our abilities and treat them with compassion.

However, their children also need our protection, support and compassion. The aim should be to reach a situation where both the mother and child thrive equally. Both have equal rights.

Responsible family planning involves proper sex education and the availability of contraception. Let us deal with these issues to avoid crisis pregnancies where possible.

Despite our best efforts, these will still happen. Then let us offer the utmost support to mother and baby and avoid the barbaric solution of killing our children.

Dr Conor Kiely

‘Huntersmoon’

Rochestown Road

Cork