Galway tragedy and its complex consequences

First I want to acknowledge the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway.

Pat Rabbitte has said the draft report on events in Galway appears to support legalising abortion on the basis of the X case, in which abortion was considered a life-saving intervention to prevent the risk of suicide. Firstly, how do doctors assess the risk to a pregnant mother’s life? Obstetricians look at observations and tests and make a reasonable prognosis. However, for psychiatrists this is much more difficult, as most people with suicidal ideation do not, thankfully, go on to commit suicide.

Secondly, when a mother’s life is at risk, how can that best be managed? Leading obstetricians testified to the Oireachtas about rare cases in which babies were delivered before viability in Irish hospitals to save a mother’s life. They had not encountered any cases of a mother’s unnecessary death because this was not done. In contrast, the experienced psychiatrists told the committee they had never seen a case in which abortion was the recommended treatment for suicide risk.

It is misleading, then, to say the draft report on the Galway tragedy supports legislating for the X case. They concern two very different medical situations.

Given what we now know that the judges in the X case did not, abortion is not an appropriate or necessary life-saving intervention to prevent suicide.

Our Government must look long and hard at the consequences before it leaps towards a course of action that will not help, but harm, our mothers and children.

Dr Ruth Foley

Clondalkin

Dublin 22