Sir, – Obviously the proposal to legislate for abortion, based on the threat of suicide, is unmanageable and unworkable; as one of Ireland’s only three perinatal psychiatrists, Dr Anthony McCarthy, has said they will not act as “judges” when a patient comes before them claiming suicidal ideation.
This would mean, in practice, abortion would become available on demand in Ireland, as all a candidate would have to do is to say to a psychiatrist that they might be suicidal. A psychiatrist(s) would then likely sign-off on a legal abortion in an Irish facility. As we have seen from the experiences of other jurisdictions, such as New Zealand, Britain and the state of California for example, the scope for abuse of such a process is unlimited.
On a more basic, structural note, it is also significant that the Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, has made it clear that Ireland does not have the resources in the area of obstetrics or psychiatry (even if it wanted to) to adequately police a regime of legal abortion based on the threat of suicide (Home News, April 24th). The idea is, in Dr Coulter-Smith’s words, “totally impractical”.
This means, in my view, that the plan to “legislate for X” is completely unworkable and must be dropped. – Yours, etc,
JOHN B REID,
Knapton Road,
Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Sir, – I am struck by the disturbing behaviour of the Government when it comes to legislating, or rather, promising to legislate for the X case.
Our Government can rush through bank deals, yet consistently procrastinates when it comes to ensuring the protection of women’s lives.
Throughout history, the women of Ireland have had their reproductive rights and choices trampled on; from their severe and unwarranted penalisation in the Magdalene laundries, to being unwilling subjects of the barbaric practice of symphysiotomy, Irish women are no closer to being valued and trusted in their own country.
If the Government really cared about women, it wouldn’t have put the matter of legislating for X at the back of its agenda for so long. We are still waiting, and we are feeling the shame of not being trusted. We are hurt at being condescended to.
While the Government deliberates time and time again, there will be more tragedies like that of Savita Halappanavar, and there will continue to be 12 women every day who are forced to make the trip abroad in painful and upsetting circumstances, in order to exercise what they believe to be a valid choice concerning their own health and body. When will the Government realise the damage they are doing to the lives of Irish women? – Yours, etc,
HEATHER BROWNING,
Glendown Drive,
Templeogue, Dublin 6W.