Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My first question is for Dr. Boylan. In respect of head 3, he states consideration should be given to the possibility that termination might need to be carried out in a private institution. Could that include Marie Stopes?

With regard to head 6 and the point made by Senator Bacik, when the psychiatric personnel were before us they actually made the point that the appropriate treatment for somebody who is suicidal would be to take them into care for a minimum of a couple of weeks, in which period they would be observed and treated, before determining what should happen next. Dr. Boylan seems to be ruling that out as a possibility.

Dr. Mahony laid heavy emphasis on the lack of clarity over when interventions can be made at present. I remember when she was here on the last occasion. Was there any occasion on which she was unable to intervene, leading to the death of a mother under the current legal position? Dr. Mahony mentioned Ms X and stated she should be listened to. I do not disagree with her. She will know that Ms X did not have an abortion. In 1997, Ms C was brought to Britain unaware of the fact that she was going to have an abortion. She was subsequently suicidal. She was in this House two days ago talking to Members. Should Ms C and women who have had abortions and who have suffered from serious trauma subsequently, sometimes for 20 and 30 years, not need to be listened to also?

I thank Dr. Coulter-Smith for the clarity of his presentation. He mentioned something that struck me. It was stated that if one carries out an induction of a baby of 25 weeks, there is a risk of death or disability and cerebral palsy. That was not mentioned by Dr. Boylan or Dr. Mahony. Does Dr. Coulter-Smith agree it is a possibility? I have been told by an obstetrician that there could be a 50% chance of cerebral palsy for that early delivery. Do Dr. Boylan and Dr. Mahony agree that we should operate on the basis of evidence-based medicine and, above all, do no harm? Can they point to any evidence that will actually vindicate the position that abortion is a treatment for suicidality? I acknowledge that is outside their range.

The spectre is being raised that this, perhaps, is a very restricted regime. I suggest that the doctors examine California's Therapeutic Abortion Act 1967. Within three years of enactment, the number of abortions grew from hundreds to 61,000. An expert and constitutional scholar in the Visitors Gallery, Mr. Linton, will be able to fill in the witnesses on precisely what happened in that area. The committee chose not to hear him but I am sure he will talk to the witnesses privately and advise them on the challenges facing us because of the opening of the suicidality issue.