Sir, – The Doctors for Life group are correct that there is “no medical basis” for the three-day waiting period before women in Ireland are able to access legal termination of pregnancy services (Letters, December 6th).
It was introduced as a political compromise at Cabinet, reportedly to allay the personal concerns of Simon Coveney and secure his support for the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
They are, however, incorrect in their interpretation of the HSE data regarding the differential between the numbers of initial consultations and abortions recorded in 2020 to reach the generalised conclusion that more than 1,400 women “appear to have changed their mind and did not go ahead with an abortion during the three-day waiting period”.
The raw figures tell us nothing more than that a proportion of women who attended an initial consultation with a doctor, and who were considering abortion, did not return to the GP or clinic they first consulted.
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Some women may indeed not have proceeded with a termination after the consultation (nothing to do with a three-day delay).
Others may have inadvertently consulted one of the 90 per cent of GPs who do not provide the service, or not met with a sympathetic hearing at an initial visit and subsequently sought help elsewhere.
This of course would be recorded as a second “initial consultation”.
Miscarriage could be another factor.
It is therefore not scientifically valid for the Doctors for Life group to reach their generalised conclusion on the basis of the raw data provided.
Most women will feel confirmed in their decision to proceed with an abortion after an initial consultation with a doctor. Others who may be having difficulty with their decision for a variety of reasons will find that sympathetic and non-judgmental doctors can assist them when requested. Some will proceed with an abortion, others will not, according to their individual choice. Forcing a three-day interval on all women is unnecessary, paternalistic, and infantilising.
Furthermore, it is not valid to reach the conclusion that there was a “huge increase” in the number of abortions in 2019, the first year of the legislation. The HSE planned for 10,000 based on a comparison with figures in Scotland and Norway. In the event there were 6,666.
It is incorrect to state that in 2018 “less than 3,000 women travelled to Britain for abortion”. All the number tells us that around 3,000 women gave Republic of Ireland addresses when accessing abortion in England and Wales. It tells us nothing about women who used UK addresses or accessed abortion in, for example, other countries such as the Netherlands. The legislation also removed the need to import pills.
The mandatory three-day waiting period for a legal abortion was included for political reasons and has no medical basis. Women have fought long and hard in this country for the right to bodily autonomy and equality under the law. There are no other medical procedures in Ireland which mandate a waiting period. Removing the three-day requirement will be further progress for the rights of women in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
Dr PETER BOYLAN,
(Adviser to the HSE on
the implementation of
termination of pregnancy and related services, 2018-19),
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – The recent letter from Doctors for Life opposing changes to our abortion law is a timely reminder of how women seeking legal abortion services in Ireland still face barriers when attempting to do so.
In particular, there remains a lack of abortion services in rural parts of the country. In their support for maintaining the three-day waiting period, the letter writers provide no medical explanation for a requirement that places additional stress on women who still have to travel for abortion services. – Yours, etc,
SÉAMUS WHITE,
Stoneybatter,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – The letter from medics, midwives and nurses calling for the Minister for Health to retain the present three-day reflection shows great insight into the pressures that can bear down on many women who are considering an abortion.
The Department of Health’s own figures affirm that at least some women do need time to internalise not alone the immediate implications of their decision but also the longer-term effects.
Promises made, and undertakings given, by politicians on this issue are, of course, important. Trust is in short supply these days.
Even more important, however, is the retention of measures that don’t second-guess the single most important decision many women will make but, instead, give breathing space to mitigate sometimes overwhelming pressures. – Yours, etc,
RAY KINSELLA,
Ashford,
Co Wicklow.