Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

On 30 June, the Irish Independent published the result of its investigation into the regulation of how sick certs are issued. There are serious limitations to telemedicine and areas where it can be exploited. The newspaper revealed that in some cases sick certs were issued without having any phone or video consultation with the patient. It has correctly been described as a bit of a wild west.

There are serious issues with the practice of telemedicine as it relates to Irish abortion policy. Since its introduction in 2020, it has been possible to acquire abortion pills which are then self-administered without a patient needing to be physically examined by a doctor. What struck me in the investigation carried out by the Irish Independent is that the Department of Social Protection will not accept online sick certs for social welfare schemes. The telemedicine system is not robust enough for the Department when it pertains to finances, but when it comes to the healthcare and treatment of women it sees no issue.

This is particularly concerning in cases of potential coercion and abuse. Meeting the women in person increases the likelihood of a provider identifying any coercion or domestic abuse. Aontú submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health, Deputy Caroll MacNeill, to ask whether independent research had been undertaken into the impact and effect of telemedicine abortion since its introduction in 2020. The Minister cited the 2021 review and stated that no serious adverse events had been reported to the HSE related to remote consultations for the termination of pregnancy.

I ask the Minister to conduct new independent research, given that in October 2022 the Irish Examiner revealed how an underage girl had been locked in a room and forced to ingest abortion pills. While telemedicine can provide convenience, it also risks being exploited. This is particularly alarming in the case of telemedicine abortion which poses a distinct risk to vulnerable women who may face the danger of domestic abuse and coercion.