Dr. Sam Coulter-Smith:

Senator Marie Moloney referred to rape and lethal foetal malformations as grounds for termination. I agree that it is unfortunate these two issues are not covered in the legislation because they are serious and real problems for a certain number of patients.

In terms of legal clarity and protection for the medical profession, including the nursing profession and other health care professionals involved in such cases, the legislation goes a long way to providing the clarity, protection and reassurance they require in dealing with these extremely difficult cases.

In regard to the X case and the fact that suicidality is included in the provisions, the legislation should be all about protecting doctors in situations where they have to act in order to terminate a pregnancy to save a mother's life. It should not matter what the issue is, whether it be suicidality, cancer, heart disease, complications of pregnancy and so on. What we, as a profession, are seeking is the reassurance, clarification and protection we require under the law to enable us to act in the best interests of a mother, while, at the same time, always doing our very best to save the baby in these very difficult circumstances.