The abortion debate

Sir, – Fintan O’Toole (Opinion Analysis, September 4th) makes two important points.

Sir, – Fintan O’Toole (Opinion Analysis, September 4th) makes two important points.

First, abortion is lawful in theory in Ireland when it is necessary to save a woman’s life.

Second, the utter lack of transparency within the Irish health system about the provision of such lawful life-saving treatment allows the State to evade its constitutional duty to uphold women’s right to life.

Indeed, it is the experience of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) that while some doctors may risk prosecution by carrying out an abortion to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, most women in these circumstances travel to the UK.

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The ruling in the A, B and C vs Ireland case turns on the issue of State accountability regarding women’s human rights.

Until the Government acts to implement this judgment by way of legislative clarity and workable medical guidelines, doctors will continue to fear prosecution and most women will continue to travel outside the State for medical treatment to save their lives. – Yours, etc,

NIALL BEHAN,

Chief Executive,

Irish Family Planning Association,

Solomon House,

Pearse Street,

Dublin 2.

Sir, – Fintan O’Toole insists that treatment for ectopic pregnancy is an abortion.

In doing so he presumes to know better than the leading Irish medical experts who have clearly stated that such treatment is not, in fact, an abortion.

He is also causing much distress to women like me who have lost a baby to ectopic pregnancy.

Mr O’Toole will never undergo an ectopic pregnancy. Perhaps he might consider the feelings of those who have before he uses our experiences to further his argument. – Yours, etc,

LUCY McDONALD,

Haroldville Avenue,

Rialto,

Dublin 8.