Ms Christina Zampas:

From what I understand of it, that is the case. The criminal law plays a major role in creating a chilling factor for women in getting post-abortion care. Women are scared. If a 14-year sentence is looming over a woman who has had an illegal abortion at home in Ireland or abroad and she needs post-abortion care for a complication, she would ask questions.

Many people simply do not know what the law is or what the requirements are. Human rights bodies are clear. Post-abortion care should always be available and doctors should not report women to the police for having illegal abortions when they come in for post-abortion care. Some countries have done that and there has been heavy criticism by the UN Committee against Torture against Chile, where women were seeking post-abortion care and doctors were calling the police, who came to the medical centre.