Ectopic implantation is not abortion

John Colgan (Letters, Jun 14) asserts that abortion is practised in Ireland by citing the treatment of ectopic pregnancies.

The definition of abortion is a procedure whose purpose is to end the life of the unborn baby because its existence is not wanted.

In the case of ectopic implantation, it is impossible for development to proceed to viability as the site will rupture and cause an internal haemorrhage which can be rapidly life-threatening to the mother.