Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I will reflect on it and study it carefully. The medical procedure is defined as including the prescribing by a medical practitioner of any drug or medical treatment. As was pointed out earlier, the legislation does not specifically mention abortion. It provides for the lawfulness of carrying out a medical procedure, including the provision of a drug which is the type of thing that I imagine an oncologist might do when treating a pregnant woman with cancer. Where that might happen and where the child's life might be ended as a result of, or in the course of it, that would be lawful but that is where an obstetrician does it.

The concern remains. I recognise that if there were a negative consequence for obstetricians, it would be unintended. However, I would ask the Minister of State to reflect further on it to ensure that there is no unintended exclusion of the necessary medical care that we would all expect an obstetrician and other professionals to give in circumstances which have nothing to do with procuring an abortion.