The Loss of Even One Baby's Life is an Immense Tragedy, says PLC

The PLC was commenting on figures released today by Health Minister Leo Varadkar showing that 26 abortions took place in 2014 under Ireland’s new abortion law, saying that the loss of even one child’s life from abortion is an immense human tragedy. 
Commenting on the release of the figures, PLC Deputy Chairperson, Cora Sherlock said: “The Government and Minister Varadkar are fully aware that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal feelings. Yet they pressed ahead with legislation in 2013 providing for abortion on this ground, ignoring the expert evidence from two sets of Oireachtas hearings which showed that, far from being a medical treatment, abortion in the case of threatened suicide can have long term negative consequences for women. The loss of even one baby’s life from abortion is an immense tragedy. It is a very sad fact that the Government’s legislation in 2013 is directly responsible for the loss of life in the cases where three babies had their lives ended under the ‘threat of suicide’ ground for abortion."
 “It is difficult to determine from the information made available today whether the deaths of the other 23 babies under the new Act resulted from induced abortion that directly targeted their lives or whether some or all of them resulted from necessary medical interventions in pregnancy to save the life of the mother where every reasonable effort was also made to save the life of the unborn child.”

Ms Sherlock continued:  “Under the new legislation the Government deliberately blurred the distinction between necessary medical interventions and induced abortion. But what is not at issue is that three babies under the new abortion Act had their lived ended without a shred of medical evidence to suggest abortion on this ground would safeguard the life of the mother. Pro-life groups never claimed that the new law would lead to abortion on demand overnight. We stand by the claim we made in 2013 that over time the new law, unless it is repealed, will normalize the practice of abortion in Ireland and undermine the dignity and inherent value of every human life.”

Deputy Mattie McGrath's Private Member's Bill Welcomed by PLC

The Pro Life Campaign has expressed its support for the latest effort by Independent TD Mattie McGrath, obliging medical professionals to desist from using the term ‘incompatible with life’ when referring to unborn babies with potentially life-limiting conditions.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday during the introduction of his Private Members’ Bill on the issue (Disability Amendment Bill 2015), Mr McGrath said: “Like many phrases that may once have been prevalent in our society, for example terms like illegitimate or retard, the phrase 'incompatible with life' must be eliminated from our public discourse”.

Commenting on Deputy McGrath’s Bill, Cora Sherlock, Deputy Chairperson of the Pro Life Campaign said: “There is a responsibility on everyone who contributes to the abortion debate to behave in a way that doesn’t cause offence or hurt to families or individuals who may be feeling particularly vulnerable. In recent debates, some politicians have used obscene and highly offensive language to describe unborn babies with life-limiting conditions. There is nothing anyone can do about that other than appeal to these politicians to be more mindful of the sensitivities involved and how much hurt and anguish their ill-considered comments cause families of babies with terminal illnesses.”

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Fundamental Flaws in Legislation Demonstrated in Leinster Hospital Abortion Case

The Pro Life Campaign has said today that the case of an abortion carried out in a Leinster hospital which has reportedly raised staff concerns about the certification process by the health professionals involved is not surprising. 

Commenting on the case, in which an abortion was carried out under the terms of the 2013 legislation last October, Cora Sherlock, the Deputy Chairperson of the Pro Life Campaign said:

“The 2013 law permits abortion up until birth on a threat of suicide without any medical evidence to back it up.  The law simply requires two psychiatrists to sign off to pave the way for an unborn child’s life to be ended.”

“When the abortion law was being debated the Pro Life Campaign and others predicted that it was dangerously open to abuse and the case reported today appears to substantiate those concerns.”

Responding to the fact that the HSE does not intend to investigate if there has been any breach of procedure in this particular case she said:

“While we cannot comment on individual cases, it goes without saying that every situation where an unborn child’s life is taken, whether or not within the confines of the unjust abortion law of 2013, should be thoroughly investigated.”

“The idea of the HSE deciding not to investigate when legitimate concerns have been raised by its own staff about the ceritification procedure is disturbing and simply not acceptable. An independent investigation into this tragedy must take place without delay”, Cora Sherlock concluded.

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"True Equality Means Accepting All Members Of Society, Born And Unborn"

The Pro Life Campaign has strongly criticised the attempts by abortion advocates to push for a repeal of the 8th Amendment in the aftermath of the recent marriage referendum in Ireland. 

Deputy Chairperson Cora Sherlock commented:

“It is deeply hypocritical of politicians to celebrate equality and in the next breath to claim that this translates to a mandate to hold a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment.”

“The 8th Amendment guarantees the equality of the unborn, who are a distinct group of human beings in Irish society.  Any attempt to remove it would lead to a less inclusive, less fair society.  This is not what the Irish people want.”

“It is extremely disturbing that some politicians are trying to exploit the experiences of families of babies with life-limiting conditions in order to try and promote a referendum on abortion.  There has been no sincere effort to improve perinatal palliative care facilities for these families, despite the fact that the Irish Medical Organisation and others have called for better supports for families in these difficult situations.”

She concluded:

“True equality means recognising and valuing all members of society, including babies with life-limiting conditions.  Advocating abortion in these circumstances is the worst form of discrimination and should be roundly condemned.”

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