Two unborn babies in the Republic of Ireland were misdiagnosed with a condition which led to their abortion, it has been reported.
In response to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín’s question about the “number of adverse incidents” related to abortion in the last five years, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill revealed that there are two claimants “alleging that their unborn baby was wrongfully diagnosed with a condition” which resulted in an abortion.
Under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, an unborn child can be aborted beyond twelve weeks if two medics deem that they have a condition that will lead to their death before birth, or a maximum of 28 days later.
‘Heartbreaking’
Responding to the revelations, Tóibín said: “It is extremely worrying to learn that there are multiple cases of abortion following misdiagnosis”.
He urged the Minister to review all notifications of abortions she has received, warning that there could be more cases “if there is no accountability”.
Independent TD Carol Nolan commented: “This is the terrifying and heartbreaking reality of abortion. The innocent will always suffer.
“But where is the outrage? Where is the compassion from Government as its barbaric regime of abortion is exposed yet again. We must ensure that this kind of tragic incident is entirely eliminated.”
Abortion rates
In a Dáil debate on International Women’s Day, Independent Senator Rónán Mullen expressed concern at the growing abortion provision in hospitals across the country.
Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee claimed that this was “very welcome”, but Senator Mullen expressed concern, saying that “like many other Irish women and men, I am troubled by the rise in Ireland’s abortion rates.
“There needs to be a refocus to reduce abortion, specifically the dangers of basing abortion on a telemedicine model when the HSE has acknowledged that meeting a woman in person increases the likelihood of the provider identifying any coercion or domestic abuse.”
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