Sir, – As director of Amnesty Ireland Colm O’Gorman is concerned, following the publication of the number of terminations under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (2013), that the scrutiny of a pregnant woman to establish suicidal ideation that warrants a termination is “mentally distressing for the person. (“Abortion policy must be reviewed, groups say”, June 30th)
To my mind the assessment of a suicidal person is something a mental health professional takes time over both to assess risk and to offer support.
The relatively low numbers of terminations on the suicidal grounds suggests to me that the legislation and thorough assessment by more than one doctor may be achieving its aim of protecting life. – Yours, etc, FRANK BROWNE Templeogue, Dublin 16.