Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are on head 4. Was that appropriate in the view of Dr. O’Grady? Dr. Veronica O’Keane made a claim that is of huge concern to me and I would like her to validate it. She said in point 5 that in situations where abortion services are not available, unwanted pregnancy is a leading cause of suicide. That is not known. Where is the evidence to support her statement? What source does she have?

In January, Dr. O'Keane said just three out of every 100 patients who attended psychiatrists and were predicted to be at risk of suicide would eventually go on to commit suicide. That is a direct quote; she did not say they were pregnant women. I am very concerned also that she says she would like a GP to make a recommendation for an abortion. Did she mean a referral to a psychiatrist? Does Dr. O'Keane believe there should be any restrictions on the provision of abortion when a woman requests it?