Ms Jennifer Schweppe:

I agree with Dr. Mills's position about the practitioners who make this assessment. One could ask if two, why not three or if three, why not four, if four, why not a committee. Two is a workable number and the assessment can be done quickly. When it is a case of a real and substantial risk to the life of the pregnant woman, I think expediency is required.

I have read Dr. Mills's Bill. I do not think it is possible to drive anything through it, not to mention a horse or a coach. We cannot guarantee that floodgates will not be opened. Nothing is guaranteed in law. What we can guarantee is that we are not doing anything with the Constitution which obliges medical practitioners, everyone in society, politicians, to respect and vindicate the right to life of the unborn. I agree we need to give due regard to the right to life of the pregnant woman but there is nothing in any legislation which can affect that right to life of the unborn. We need to accept that. To say that medical practitioners will start terminating pregnancies in a more general way, is to diminish the profession. We need to respect the fact that medical practitioners will act in accordance with the legislation and the guidelines.