Debate On Abortion

Sir, - It was interesting to read Medb Ruane's column on "Evading the real issue on Abortion" (September 1st)

Sir, - It was interesting to read Medb Ruane's column on "Evading the real issue on Abortion" (September 1st). Abortion is a matter of life and death that outweighs any arguments, statistics, legal or political gerrymandering. For at the end of every abortion a young life has been extinguished (often brutally slaughtered) and a vulnerable young woman may have been traumatised.

With over 20 years' experience as a nurse/midwife in both London and New York, I too have witnessed the tragedies of the era of which she writes. But it was these same tragedies that led Dr Bernard Marthanson, an eminent Jewish New York obstetrician, to lead the campaign for legalised abortion in the United States. Years later, having himself performed multiple abortions and becoming more conscious of the reality of life before birth he was filled with remorse for what he had done. Today he ranks among those foremost in the campaign to repeat those same laws.

Partial birth abortions are now legally performed in that country. This involves surgically sucking out the brains of full-term babies during the process of normal delivery. Sure, to quote Ms Ruane's own words, "for some the price is way too high". - Yours, etc.,

Sheila Lane, Marsham Court, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.