Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution

Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin

1:40 pm

Dr. Peter Boylan:

I am not familiar with the details of the woman who died in London that Professor Malone mentioned. I cannot illuminate on that.

Training is a function of the institute. The skill sets are there already. Early terminations with tablets can be done through GPs surgeries and clinics, and by nurses who are certified to prescribe.

A person with a conscientious objection has an obligation to refer the woman on to somebody else who will have a different view. That is what they must do.