Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

The Minister said medical errors will occur. I agree, but they are much less likely to take place if we do not have outdated equipment and if proper protocols are in place. Is the Minister now sure that we no longer have equipment that is too old for the job in the case of these life and death issues? She said that we can be assured now that any decision regarding terminating a pregnancy and taking away the life of a viable child will not happen unless it is signed off by a clinical obstetrician. However, she has not assured us that there will be a second opinion. While a second opinion is standard practice in many obstetric units throughout the country, this is not the case in all of them. Will the Minister assure us that she will demand there be a second opinion before any intervention is made in a pregnancy?

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