Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 5, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:“ “appropriately qualified practitioner” means a general practitioner, medical practitioner, midwife, obstetrician, gynaecologist, as defined in this Act;”.

This amendment is about broadening the Bill. That does not mean we are supportive of it in its present draft. It proposes to broaden those qualified to be able to give a certification on whether a woman is suicidal.

Having three medical personnel determining whether a woman is suicidal is, however, a disgrace. The provision in this regard in Deputy Clare Daly's Bill was much more appropriate. The cases of young women in HSE care who were sent to Britain for terminations were determined by one psychiatrist. I believe there should be only one psychiatrist dealing with a woman in a suicidal situation. This amendment aims to broaden those qualified personnel who should be able to deal with certification and not just confine it to an obstetrician. For example, an obstetrician may only meet a woman once or twice during a pregnancy. Her general practitioner, GP, would be much more aware of the woman's overall medical condition and history.

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