Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

To take up where Deputy Conway concluded, Dr. McCarthy told us this morning that suicide in pregnancy is a real risk. He concluded by saying, "It does happen." Professor Malone spoke about the therapeutic alliance. My question is: has he ever involuntarily admitted a patient? Surely it could be argued that involuntarily admitting patients is in breach of a therapeutic alliance. Earlier, Dr. McCabe stated that these are social issues and, accordingly, psychiatry should not be involved. There is not always one pathway. With the current financial backdrop we know that many other social issues are a factor when people end up availing of the witnesses' services. Life is messy and interlinked.

Earlier today we heard compelling examples of children in the care of the State who were impregnated by their fathers and sought psychiatrists in those situations. We heard about a woman with anorexia, and the X case. We know that very often there is distress, stress, and mental disorder, and that is what we have heard already today. I am trying to put myself in the shoes of that one in 500,000. I listened to Dr. Malone give figures on male and female suicide. My role as a legislator is to protect everyone and not to say that that is not a sufficiently large figure for us to examine. If I am that one in 500,000, what happens in those situations? Do we put our heads in the sand, knowing they will go to the United Kingdom? Is that the solution we are proposing, or do we ensure that the treatment is available for them and not tell them to wait two weeks? This one in 500,000 is a rare, extremely stressful case. These women are not in a logical, rational place. If I am that one in 500,000, what would the witnesses say to me? It does happen.