Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The eminent consultant, Patricia Casey, concluded:

There is no evidence from international studies showing that abortion is a recognised treatment or part of a treatment for a suicidal pregnant woman, nor has it been suggested that this might have prevented the rare cases of suicide that occur in pregnancy. The adequate recognition and treatment of mental illness during pregnancy is what is required.

In an individual case it is claimed that an abortion might be of benefit. The problem is that since suicide cannot be predicted there is no definitive way of identifying an individual woman who, on the balance of probability, is at risk of taking her life. Also, since there are no studies indicating benefits from abortion it will be impossible to tell whether such an intervention will help or harm the woman or what the likely magnitude of either is. The recommendation of the expert group in 2012 is that psychiatrists, in their role relating to the implementation of the X judgment, must ensure that their decision is evidence-based so as to comply with the Medical Council ethical guide, 2009. This is not met in respect of abortion and suicide.

In the event that legislation is enacted allowing for suicide risk as a ground for abortion, psychiatrists will be compromised. This will arise if the woman insists she is suicidal, against the opinion of the examining psychiatrists, who might understandably be tempted to err on the side of caution and accede to her wishes. Questions will also arise as to the role of a psychiatrist in recommending an abortion to a woman who is suicidal but does not have mental illness. Being expected to make decisions of this sort jeopardises their role as medical professionals who treat mental illness.

If legislation for abortion on the grounds of suicide risk is enacted psychiatrists will be expected to propose an unproven intervention - abortion - for a rare outcome, suicide, that is more often incorrectly rather than correctly predicted.

The possibility of abuse of such a law is also a consideration in light of recent comments from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.

On the implications of the expert group report on the A, B and C ruling, she stated:

Legislation for the X case should not include suicide risk as a ground for abortion in Ireland as there is no evidence that it is necessary and no evidence of benefit. Thus the requirement that treatments must be evidence-based is not met.

Abortion does not cure suicide. All of the international evidence, from both pro-choice and pro-life psychiatrists, supports that. If this Bill is about protecting lives and supporting women, we should provide the adequate care and attention women require during a difficult time in their lives. Will Fine Gael and Labour Senators opposite, most of whom have been respectful during the course of this debate, consider at this late stage voting against this legislation because none of the evidence supports its introduction into Irish law?