A leaked copy of the report the expert group on abortion
appointed by the Irish government was the basis of reports in various Sunday
newspapers It is understood that the report, which suggests abortion should be
allowed in limited circumstances, will be discussed by the Irish Government
today Tuesday 27th Nov.
The reported leaks
claim that the report stipulates that “limited abortion” be available
and an appeals process be established for women who are denied an abortion
under the laws protecting unborn children.
“Termination of
pregnancy should be considered a medical treatment regardless of whether the
risk to the woman arises on physical or mental health grounds,” the leaked
report suggests. “In the case of a risk to the mother it must establish criteria
or procedures by which a doctor is to assess that risk; and set up an
independent review system where a patient disputes her doctor’s refusal to
certify that she is entitled to a lawful abortion and where there is a
disagreement between doctors as to whether one is necessary.”
“Ultimately, the most politically contentious aspect of the
report is likely to be its analysis of whether non-statutory guidelines on the
rights of a woman to an abortion in Irish hospitals, or a legislative response,
will meet the requirements of the European Court of Human Rights,” it says.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children responded
to media stories about the leaked report, due for imminent publication,
saying it would wrongly open the door to legalized abortions.
John Smeaton, SPUC director, commented: “According to a
leaked copy of the report, the so-called experts recommend that ‘termination of
pregnancy should be considered a medical treatment regardless of whether the
risk to the woman arises on physical or mental health grounds.’”
“If this principle is followed to its logical conclusion,
Ireland will end up with a similar abortion regime to Great Britain. Britain’s
Abortion Act 1967 is based on the false premise that there are circumstances in
which abortion is a clinically-indicated medical treatment, such that
abortionists should be automatically exempt from prosecution under the Offences
Against the Person Act 1861, under which abortion is a criminal offence,”
Smeaton said. “It is no surprise, therefore, that the report calls for the 1861
Act’s provisions on abortion to be removed from Irish law. The Irish people
must rise up and demand that the Irish constitution’s ban on abortion be upheld
against this report, which is the fruit of the international pro-abortion
lobby’s machinations.”
Irish pro-life groups are dismayed at how the death of
Savita Halappanavar has been exploited by abortion campaigners and media.
The autopsy report on Savita’s death revealed that she died from blood poisoning
and E coli ESBL an antibiotic resistant strain of the bacterium. Despite the wild claims which have had
global coverage it has also been suggested that termination of Savita’s
pregnancy would not have made any difference to her condition. It is understood that E Coli ESBL has
recently spread throughout the UK causing urinary tract infections which can
develop into blood poisoning.
The tragic loss of Savita’s life did not result from Ireland’s
pro-life laws, abortion is not part of best medical practice.
Doctors are always obliged to intervene to save the life of the mother – even
if there is a risk that the medical treatment could result in the unintentional
death of her baby.
