Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin:

If I may comment on that, I would have a slightly differing opinion, with respect. The medical ethics used at the clinical coalface include the autonomy of the woman at all times and her supporting partner and family. The provision of her involvement in the discussion is not purely just to receive advice and information but it is an informed consent process over time, if the time allows. In general, if the woman is aware that time is not allowing, she makes her decision quite quickly, but in some situations informed consent is a process and it is revisited over hours and days, if time allows. Women may choose to opt out of life-saving procedures when their life is at serious risk if they have the capacity to do so. Our duty as clinician providers is to assess their well-being and ability to have capacity, and capacity may be an issue in distressing circumstances with psychoses, drug use or intellectual disability. We would involve other professions in helping us reach that decision if there is any concern over it, where time allows.