Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This legislation comes into play where the life of the mother is at risk. The amendment fails to recognise that medical procedures change, as was clearly evident from the description given last week, something which went on 25 years ago. Procedures have changed and moved on.

There is a huge commitment among the medical profession to the life of the mother and the unborn but we are losing that in this debate. The commitment given by all the hospitals and maternity units and by medical consultants, junior doctors, nursing staff and support staff is unquestionable. People are committed to maintaining that.

I welcome the clarification given by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in which it clearly set out that the procedures described here last week are not carried out in this jurisdiction, nor will they be in the future. The procedures described would open up the whole area of medical negligence. Any doctor going down that road would put himself or herself at risk of being sued civilly and in terms of breaching all of the guidelines. The institute clearly set out that where there is a difficulty and the life of the mother is at risk, medication comes into play.

The amendment restricts any new developments because it refers to current medical practice. Some 15 years ago, a baby born delivered at 28 weeks had a very good chance of survival but did not have if born between 24 and 28 weeks. However, that has changed and a baby born between 23 and 24 weeks has a very good chance of survival which goes to show how medical procedures have changed in that time. Medical procedures will continue to improve but this amendment would restrict any future development in regard to the care of the mother and the unborn and, therefore, I do not support it.