Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ireland

29 February 2000

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is the professional body representing the speciality of obstetrics and gynaecology in Ireland. The Executive Council of the Institute has examined the Green Paper on Abortion and the members have been consulted. We welcome the Green Paper, which provides a comprehensive, uptodate and objective analysis of the issues arising in the care of the pregnant woman. Our expertise is in the medical area and our comments are confined to these aspects.

In the current obstetrical practice rare complications can arise where therapeutic intervention is required at a stage in pregnancy where there will be little or no prospect for the survival of the baby, due to extreme immaturity. In these exceptional situations failure to intervene may result in the death of both mother and baby. We consider that there is a fundamental difference between abortion carried out with the intention of taking the life of the baby, for example, for social reasons, and the unavoidable death of the baby resulting from the essential treatment to protect the life of the mother

We recognise our responsibility to provide aftercare for women who decide to leave the state for termination of pregnancy. We recommend that full support and follow up services be made available for all women whose pregnancies have been terminated, whatever the circumstances

Professor John Bonnar, MD,

FRCPI, FRCOGChairman,

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists