Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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606. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure any woman who initiated a legal abortion in this country and is forced to travel if the abortion fails will receive the care they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44521/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states that a termination of pregnancy may be carried out by a medical practitioner where, having examined the woman, he or she is of the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The medical practitioner must certify this opinion and three days must elapse between certification and the procedure being carried out.

It should be noted that sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 set out other grounds on which termination of pregnancy is permitted in this country.

It would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Health, to intervene in medical practice to suggest how medical practitioners treat their patients, or to dictate the practice of obstetrics. Medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.

Clinical guidelines for the provision of termination of pregnancy services, within the legal framework set out in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, have been developed by the relevant professional medical bodies.