Ireland is to legalise abortions when the mother's life is at risk, including when she is suicidal, weeks after the death of Savita Halappanavar who died after being refused an abortion.
The move is expected to spark a major battle with the Roman Catholic Church. Ireland’s cabinet took the decision yesterday following a huge public outcry over the death of Halappanavar, a pregnant woman in October who died after her repeated requests for an abortion were refused while she was suffering a miscarriage.
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Tragic: Savita Halappanavar died after her requests for an abortion were refused while she was suffering a miscarriage
The Irish government has decided to repeal legislation that makes abortion a criminal act and to introduce regulations setting out when doctors can perform an abortion when a woman’s life is regarded as being at risk, including by suicide.
Dr James Reilly, the Irish health minister, said that the government was aware of the controversy surrounding abortion. “I know that most people have personal views on this matter. However, the government is committed to ensuring that the safety of pregnant women in Ireland is maintained and strengthened. We must fulfill our duty of care towards them,” he said.
“For that purpose, we will clarify in legislation and regulation what is available by way of treatment to a woman when a pregnancy gives rise to a threat to a woman’s life. We will also clarify what is legal for the professionals who must provide that care while at all times taking full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child.”
The legislation is expected to allow the fear of suicide as a ground for abortion but may not provide for rape or sexual abuse, neither of which formed part of the ruling.
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