Ms Marie O'Shea:

I am informed by GPs that the first consultation takes 45 minutes because they discuss everything with the patient. The consultation also looks at the need for things like rhesus D testing if the pregnancy is to continue, whether the patient needs to go on contraception and the need for screening for sexually transmitted diseases. It is a very holistic form of care. It is not targeted at giving somebody mifepristone, which is the tablet to terminate the pregnancy. GPs believe that people want to know their own minds and that if they do know their own minds, their doctor should be able to give them the medication on that occasion. They say they can tell when people are uncertain because of the informed consent process and, where that is so, they advise the patient to go back and think about it, not just for three days but for however long it takes, provided they are aware of the cut-off point under the Act.