European court ruling on abortion

Madam, – Dr Peadar O’Grady (December 23rd) is wrong to assume that doctors do not consider the rights of two patients when caring…

Madam, – Dr Peadar O’Grady (December 23rd) is wrong to assume that doctors do not consider the rights of two patients when caring for a pregnant patient. On the contrary, it is normal for doctors to accept they are treating two individuals, whether prescribing medication for the mother which may have undesirable effects on the unborn or performing X-rays. Not to take account is at the very least, unethical, and probably a negligent act.

I suspect his opinion is still a minority view among doctors, thankfully. – Yours, etc,

Dr PAT KIELY,

Department of Radiology,

MidWestern Regional Hospital,

Limerick.

Madam, – I read Dr Paul Hegarty’s letter (December 24th) on Christmas Day while my wife was feeding our baby daughter Saoirse (born five days earlier).

Reflecting on his chilly logic, I realised that Saoirse too is a “being incapable of independent existence” – if we stopped feeding her, she would die. Yet no one would question her right to be nourished, cared for, and protected. It seems plain to me that this beautiful girl wriggling and kicking in my living room is the same person I saw wriggling and kicking onscreen in our doctor’s surgery in Donabate during her 12-week scan. I refuse to believe that she “existed” any less then than she does now. Ireland should be proud of her legislation that protects unborn children and if any changes are considered, they must continue to take seriously the rights of both unborn and born human beings. – Yours, etc,

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STEPHEN CHILDS,

Windsor Court,

Southgate, London, England.

Madam, – Dr Paul Hegarty attempts to draw a distinction between “an unborn” and “people who actually exist”. (December 24th) I’m confused. Are unborn children not “people who actually exist”? – Yours, etc,

KIERON WOOD,

Grange Wood,

Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.