Loveboth

  • Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world to have a baby. It is safer than countries with abortion on demand. Figures published by the Maternal Death Enquiry Ireland (MDE) show our maternal death rate of 6.5 per 100,000 is extremely low compared with a rate of 8.8 per 100,000 in the UK and 26.7 per 100,000 in the US1.
  • Some people have concerns following media reports about the tragic case of Savita Halappanavar in 2012. Three separate independent reports have shown that her death was due to mismanagement of sepsis2. Thirteen missed opportunities were identified in her care. The doctors involved in her case never blamed the 8th Amendment for her death.
  • Ireland’s abortion laws were clarified in 2013. It is lawful to terminate a pregnancy in Ireland in order to protect a mother’s life3.
  • Dr. Mary Holohan, Consultant Obstetrician in the Rotunda Hospital has recently criticised those who create ‘unnecessary fears’ about the protection of women in Ireland.

“A pro-choice meeting in Kildare was recently told that a woman who has cancer while pregnant cannot avail of chemotherapy in Ireland. This is simply false, and it appals me that such a claim would ever be made about our health service… The amendment does not inhibit our ability to treat a woman. It does one thing only – it bans us from intentionally killing one of our patients. I shall vote to retain it.”
Prof Eamonn McGuinness, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Former Chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

  1. www.rcpi.ie/news/releases/institute-of-obstetricians-and-gynaecologists-welcomes-new-figures-that-show-ireland-is-one-of-the-safest-places-to-have-a-baby/
  2. Inquest Report: The coroner’s nine recommendations endorsed by the jury, (April 2013); HSE Report, (June 2013); The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Report, (October 2013).
  3. Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, 2013