Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I cannot accept the Deputy's amendments. Under the terms of the Bill, a "medical practitioner" means a doctor registered by the Medical Council under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, which indicates a person permitted by law to practise as a medical practitioner in the State. In the performance of their professional activities, all such medical practitioners are subject to the ethical and professional control of the Medical Council. It is not intended that it should be possible for a person other than a qualified doctor to undertake the procedures involved in this Bill. Other than in emergency situations, doctors who can certify in regard to a real and substantial risk to the woman of loss of life that can only be averted by a medical procedure as a result of which unborn life is ended must be registered by the Medical Council in its specialist division.

The Bill also requires that the medical procedure, in order to be lawful, must be carried out by an obstetrician or gynaecologist rather than by any other registered medical practitioner. This stricter provision is to ensure the procedure is carried out by highly skilled and qualified medical personnel only, in order to secure the best possible care for the woman whose life is at risk and for the unborn.

Finally, the Bill refers to medical practitioners with a "relevant speciality". This is defined with reference to specialist knowledge to ensure that doctors involved in the certification process have a high level of knowledge and skills. However, it is not limited any further, in order to ensure that all clinical specialties that might be relevant may be included in the definition.

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