Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will not accept this amendment. The word used in section 9 has been considered from a medical perspective and with a view to ensuring flexibility for medical practitioners practising in the field.

Under the terms of the Bill a medical practitioner can take the decision, in consultation with the woman, to carry out a termination of pregnancy on the grounds that it would be appropriate in order to address the risk to the woman's health. Use of the word "appropriate" was deliberate in this context, indicating that a termination of pregnancy may be lawfully carried out where a doctor has determined that it is a treatment option for the woman in order to address the risk to her health.

To use wording other than that currently used in the Bill, particularly more restrictive wording, could have implications for obstetrics practice and could have a chilling effect on the provision of the service or for medical practice in the area more generally.

I will read from the Minister's notes which are before me. He took advice from the Attorney General and obstetricians. Medical Council guidelines will be revised when the law is changed. "Appropriate" will not be defined. Doctors will agree with women as to what "appropriate" means.