Ms Caroline Simons:

I also was concerned that when we considered what the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland was saying in that respect, it presented us with the situation as to what one should do with a woman who was suicidal because of her pregnancy but who does not have any underlying mental illness or psychosis. She has preordained the treatment she wants, which is a termination under head 4. In the absence of any mental illness, she is presumed to have capacity to make this decision and she is in a position to refuse anything that is offered to her by the psychiatrist. This then would mean the only tool left in the kit that could address her suicidal ideation or suicidal intent is in fact abortion. This leaves the psychiatrists in a very difficult position, which was acknowledged clearly yesterday in the testimony.