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

I will read the statement that has been prepared for the Minister in response to this amendment before trying to answer some of the other questions. I will not be accepting this amendment. As the Minister said on Committee Stage in the Dáil, the need for an ultrasound scan will be dealt with in the clinical guidelines in accordance with best practice in medicine. It would not be appropriate to include a provision on ultrasound scans in this legislation, or indeed to prescribe any details of medical treatments, compulsory care pathways or treatment plans in legislation. Such details are best set out in clinical guidelines rather than primary legislation. I assure Senators, as the Minister has previously done, that clinical guidelines for medical practitioners with regard to the termination of pregnancy are in preparation in parallel with the service planning and expansion work that is being undertaken in the Department and in the HSE. The Department of Health has provided a grant to support the development of clinical guidelines and to enable their efficient completion. I assure the House that good progress is being made.

The questions that were asked about doctors are more suited to doctors than to politicians. If a doctor wants an ultrasound, it will be made available. It is better for the doctor, rather than us as legislators, to decide whether an ultrasound can be used. Most women do not need an ultrasound if they are sure of their dates. This amendment would force them to have a test they do not need. An ultrasound is not needed and could act as an extra barrier for the timely treatment of the woman. Dating in early pregnancy is often more accurate than ultrasound. I do not have any other questions that I can answer at this moment for the Senators.