Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 July 2013

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed)

 

4:35 am

Photo of Peter MathewsPeter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure I understand this issue properly. If in the situation envisaged in section 9 there has been a joint agreement or certification by a psychiatrist and an obstetrician that there will be a medical procedure to terminate the pregnancy to avoid the risk of suicide as a last resort and the gestation of the baby is 11 or 12 weeks at that stage, it certainly does not have any chance of survival, given what doctors have told me. Therefore, is there not a presumption of recklessness towards the survival of the baby at that stage in this procedure? As in the case of a road traffic accident, if one is driving so carelessly and recklessly that one kills somebody, it is tantamount to murder or manslaughter. Am I missing something here? Will the Minister clarify the matter for me?

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