Irish Woman Died Returning From Britain After Abortion
The Master of the Rotunda has revealed an Irish woman who traveled abroad for an abortion died on the return to Ireland because of complications following the procedure.
Dr Fergal Malone was one of a number of experts addressing the Oireachtas Committee tasked with examining a potential repeal of the 8th Amendment.
He told TDs and Senators they were aware of at least one case where a woman had died after traveling for a termination.
"Forcing patients to travel between two jurisdiction will inevitably increase the risks to mothers' physical health and well-being."
Master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr Rhona Mahony says the 8th Amendment had resulted in all sorts of unintended situations:
"I will never forget the High Court case that dominated December 2015 (sic) when somatic function was maintained in a dead woman so her foetus could be incubated in what was described as a macabre experiment. It happened because of a medical legal interpretation of the 8th amendment and it could happen again."
This afternoon it's the turn of GPs and Crisis Pregnancy chiefs to address the committee.