Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Act of 1962, to provide for a verdict of Iatrogenic Suicide and related matters.

Today Sinn Féin is introducing “Jake’s amendment” to amend the Coroners Act. This Bill will introduce the term “iatrogenic suicide” into the Act, allowing the coroner to return it as a verdict.

Iatrogenic suicide refers to the ending of one’s own life where the primary cause is the effect of medical treatment, including treatment by way of prescribed medication administered by a healthcare professional.

The Bill is named after Jake McGill Lynch, a young boy from Clondalkin who took his life shortly after being prescribed antidepressants. I welcome Jake’s parents, Stephanie and John, to the Public Gallery. Stephanie and John have been campaigning to change the law so a coroner can note iatrogenic suicide as a verdict on the cause of death.

Jake McGill Lynch died in 2013 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 14 when he was prescribed an antidepressant weeks before his death. His mam said he was not depressed but had exam anxiety. Jake was prescribed fluoxetine. His mother had no idea it was actually Prozac or of the side effects it could have, including suicidal ideation.

Jake was diagnosed with Asperger’s. The evidence indicates Prozac has no benefit for children with Asperger’s. Despite the risk of harm, Jake was still prescribed this drug. The coroner returned an open verdict. The family welcomed the open verdict as the ruling “death by suicide” would not reflect their son’s death, which they believe was drug induced. The coroner did say that Jake was not in his right mind but he could not elaborate on the medication. As things stand, the coroner does not have the option to issue the verdict of iatrogenic suicide, and this is why we are introducing this Bill.

I welcome Jim and Vera Connell to the Public Gallery. Their son Darren died after taking anti-acne medication. Darren Connell was a county minor with Meath and was the pride and joy of his GAA club, Oldcastle. Jim told me Darren was the fittest minor in Meath. Darren was prescribed medication called doxycycline for the treatment of acne on 27 August 2019. On 11 September, he died by asphyxial hanging. He was 17 years of age. At his inquest, the coroner described the evidence put before him as compelling and made a recommendation to investigate the safety of his medication. He went on to say that Darren had no intention to die by suicide.

The ruling of suicide is hurtful for families who have suffered such loss as they know that the medication was the primary cause of their children’s deaths. I hope this Bill will give the families peace of mind in these situations. I commend the McGill Lynch and Connell families for their tireless and selfless campaign and for trusting me to tell their sons’ stories today.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I am very proud to join in this renewed effort along with Deputies Ward and Guirke. I welcome to the Public Gallery the McGill Lynch family, whom I worked with in the past, and also Jim and Vera Connell, who have joined them. Jim and Vera are here because the issue has not gone away.

There was a missed opportunity when I introduced this legislation as a Senator. The Government said it had advice from the Attorney General but it did not offer an alternative. The issue is that people are dying – in this case, young people who have been given medication that has led to their deaths. The core issue is that they are not responsible for their own deaths. The medication they were given is responsible. There must be recourse in law for that.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I am delighted to introduce this Bill along with my colleagues Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Mark Ward. It gives the coroner the option of recording iatrogenic suicide as a verdict. Iatrogenic is the ending of one’s own life where the effect of medical treatment undertaken by the deceased, including any prescribed medication, is the primary cause of such action. I welcome Stephanie and John to the Public Gallery and also Jim and Vera Connell. I knew Jim and Vera’s son Darren. He was a great footballer. He played with Meath under-14s and played right up to minor level. He was a friend of my own son. He was looked up to by everybody and he was a great young fella. We have a 50-mile walk that we do every year for cancer and he walked it. He probably would be with the Meath team in Croke Park next Sunday if he were still around.

This Bill is important to families like Darren’s as it would give them closure by having the correct verdict recorded. Darren’s family has asked for a joint meeting with the Minister for justice and the Minister for Health. The Minister for justice has said he is open to meeting. The Minister for Health has had three submissions for a meeting and Jim and Vera have yet to hear back. It would be great if both Ministers could meet Darren’s parents and listen to their story. We are looking for Government support for this Bill. It should be a no-brainer.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. Well done.

Is the Bill opposed?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."