Dr. John Sheehan:

I will focus on the question of research because, as Dr. McCarthy pointed out, it would be almost impossible to conduct the sort of trials we are speaking about. However, it is true to say there is no evidence base to indicate that abortion prevents suicide. Much of what we speak about is in the abstract. We speak about suicidal ideation, intent or plans but when one tries to quantify the extent of the problem, one examines the number of women dying by suicide in pregnancy. That goes back to the confidential inquiries in the UK, which offer the only reliable data at present. Out of more than 2.5 million deliveries over a three year period, there were four deaths in pregnancy by suicide. Each of these deaths was likely related to serious mental illness. Although we do not have the research base to back it up, and we cannot say there is research evidence, we can quantify the numbers involved. That is the extent of the numbers.