Dr. Peter Boylan:

It is, and particularly in obstetrics it is very much a partnership between the midwives and doctors and the woman going through the pregnancy. We would discuss with women, for example, indications for induction of labour for a caesarean section, for how often she should attend, whether she wants an epidural in labour and so on. Women are involved in these discussions the whole way through, but the problem with the current legislation is that it is up to the doctors to make a decision and then to advise the woman that her life is at risk and she needs a termination of pregnancy to minimise that risk or remove the risk. However, it is a fine line. The only way one can find out whether one has made the right decision is not to do a termination and, if the woman dies, one has made the wrong decision. That is the only way a doctor will know for definite that he or she has made the wrong decision. It is an unacceptable environment in which to practise medicine in 2017. Also, the lack of involvement of the woman in making the decision is not acceptable.