Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Professor O'Keane's submission suggests suicidal ideation can be addressed only by the termination of a pregnancy, yet her colleagues in perinatal medicine say they have never seen such a case. What do the psychiatric textbooks say on that matter? Has the professor any scientific basis for her belief that abortion will help a suicidal woman? The professor stated that if a woman told her she was suicidal, she would believe her. Has there been any investigation into these types of cases?

Will members of the panel state how often they have had to treat a pregnant woman who stated she was suicidal? How accurately can a threat of suicide that is likely to be acted upon be assessed? Do the delegates agree with Dr. Justin Brophy that suicidality can easily be feigned? Should there be restrictions or time limits associated with the provision of abortion where suicide is threatened or where there is a risk? Do the delegates agree with abortion after 30 weeks, for instance, where suicide is threatened? If not, what would the options be? Do the delegates believe that there are two patients in the pregnancy and that the unborn child deserves a duty of care?