Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have had discussions in the past about negligence on the part of medical professionals. We have had all-party agreement on the issue of symphysiotomy, for example. I support this legislation, but there is an obligation to ensure “in good faith” and “reasonable opinion” are defined to the extent that medical professionals whom we trust every day understand it. The Minister's amendments go in line with mine. To ensure the legislation is supportive of the principles outlined in Article 40.3.3^o and interpreted in the X case, nothing more and nothing less, it must be clearly defined in legislation that there is an obligation to have a two patient strategy.

I know some argue that the Minister's amendments have been brought forward for political purposes.

We should try to rise above that and point out that this will place obligations on clinicians, but obligations we would expect clinicians to place on themselves, nothing more, nothing less.

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