Abortion bill proposes terminations in Mullingar hospital
The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar is among the hospitals where abortions may be carried out under the government’s Protection of Human Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013.
As part of the legislation, some ‘appropriate institutions’ are specified for the purposes of the act, including Portiuncula, Mullingar and Portlaoise hospitals. The hospitals listed include public hospitals with obstetric units.
Under the bill, it will now be lawful to carry out a medical procedure, in the course of which, or as a result of which, an unborn human life is ended where the procedure is carried out by an obstetrician at the listed hospitals. This is subject to two medical practitioners having examined the pregnant woman and certified that there is a real and substantial risk of loss of life and that risk can only be averted by carrying out the procedure.
The bill also provides for terminations in respect of risk of loss from suicide where the medical procedure is carried out by an obstetrician at an appropriate institution.
This is subject to three medical practitioners certifying that there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the woman’s life by way of suicide, and in their reasonable opinion, that risk can only be averted by carrying out that medical procedure. Of the three medical practitioners, one should be an obstetrician and two psychiatrists. There are new provisions in relation to the risk of loss of life to the woman in emergency situations.
There is also a conscientious objection provision for medical practitioners, nurses and midwives who will not be obliged to assist or carry out terminations.
They are required to make arrangements for the transfer of care of the pregnant woman concerned as may be necessary to enable the woman to avail of the medical procedure concerned.
The legislation will now be debated in the Oireachtas. It is the intention of the Government to have the legislation enacted into law before the summer recess.
The full bill is here.