Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will stay within that time limit. I have two brief questions. As I understand them, the current Medical Council guidelines refer to the fact that suicide is a grounds for termination of which the medical profession have to be aware. Can I ask our colleagues with perinatal experience about this? They have already referred to the fact that in their extensive careers of more than 40 years combined experience, they have not been involved in a case where termination has been the appropriate treatment for somebody with suicidal tendencies. Could they elaborate on case management where suicide is identified as a condition of a pregnant woman? What might the alternative treatment option be in terms of case management in that particular context, bearing in mind the current Medical Council guidelines as opposed to statutory change that is being contemplated?

Professor O'Keane referred to the recent tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. Can she share with the committee the substantiated knowledge she has regarding that death?