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TDs considering change of plan for proposed three-day wait period for abortions

Dr Peter Boylan told an Oireachtas Committee that there is ‘no evidence’ for the wait time.

POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN told that the proposed three-day wait period for a woman to obtain an abortion is “not supported by evidence”.

Dr Peter Boylan of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists told the Oireachtas Health Committee today that “there isn’t any evidence that it is in fact necessary”.

He also argued that it makes assumptions about how women make decisions. 

The physician was speaking alongside Dr Cliona Murphy and was giving evidence to TDs and Senators during a discussion on the future provision of abortion in Ireland following the May vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment. 

Ahead of that vote, the government’s proposals laid out that a woman obtaining a termination up to 12 weeks of her pregnancy would have to wait for three days after an initial consultation for that termination to take place.

After an initial consultation, it’s proposed that the woman would wait three days and return for a second visit before she is prescribed the necessary pills.

Speaking to the committee today, Boylan said that the is no medical evidence for the proposed three-day wait time and that it “may act as a barrier”.

He later added that, while many doctors may see the delay as unnecessary, it is ultimately up to politicians whether this becomes part of legislation:

There isn’t any evidence that it is in fact necessary and it also makes presumptions about women’s ability to make decisions about their own healthcare. We’ve heard a lot about paternalism and attitudes toward women in the light of the CervicalCheck problems, so while there will be mixed views about it, a lot of doctors feel that it in fact is not necessary and should be dropped. But that’s a matter for the House of the Oireachtas. 

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said that there is “no medical need” for this requirement and that it was only included “as a sop for TDs”.

Coppinger added that the wait time will make it particularly difficult for poorer women to make two trips to the doctor. 

“It inhibits access if you’re poor or if you’re a victim of, say violence. It means if you’re a woman with other children you have to go in for a second appointment,” she said.

Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell also spoke about the issue and said that, while she voted for the proposal, “it’s almost completely at odds with my belief that you should trust a woman to make her decision.”

O’Connell added that she wanted to hear more evidence about the potential harm of the three-day wait but cautioned that politicians should be careful about changing things that the public voted on.

“I would argue that we spent a lot of time at the Eighth Committee making it very clear to people of Ireland what we’re putting before them and we put before them that there would be a three-day cooling off period, and I think any change to that would have to be very deeply considered at this point,” she said.

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    Mute Tom Rooney
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    Sep 14th 2012, 2:49 PM

    Far too many ‘maybe’s’ and ‘possible’ talk here, we’ve heard it all before.
    We need representatives with a bit of backbone and genuine concern for Ireland and its people, until we have this we will be continually screwed by the banking and business elites across Europe.

    59
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    Mute Damien Aulsberry
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:06 PM

    Agree wholeheartedly…whats this COULD be given a better deal and some of the bailout money would be shaved off??

    33
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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:17 PM

    Definitely – we should start making ultimatums (ultimata?) that if we don’t immediately get sorted we’re going to……., well I don’t know what we’re going to do but something pretty damn serious, thats for sure.

    25
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    Mute B Feery
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    Sep 14th 2012, 2:46 PM

    There should be a setting where you can toggle economics and politics news on or off

    42
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    Mute werejammin
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:56 PM

    Yeah yeah, the day after the last bondholder gets paid. Why come to a deal with the people dumb enough to cover your losses for you?

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    Mute graham galvin
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    Sep 14th 2012, 5:09 PM

    exactly.have to make sure the boys are looked after in the heist.

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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Sep 14th 2012, 4:05 PM

    as long as the bankers and the god like markets and bondholders are all paid off and happy the ordinary mortal can wait to be helped………..same excuses from these lot!

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    Mute Real Ireland
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    Sep 14th 2012, 2:55 PM

    Im happy its the EU making the promises.

    If it was Enda & Co id say it was simply spin and bluff, but ill happily take the word of the EU for now.

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    Mute Allan Lockie
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:24 PM

    i think the thing is,no promises are being made..

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Sep 14th 2012, 4:59 PM

    Agree with the too many maybe’s and if’s…in the meantime we’re being hammered into the finncial stone age. This macks once again of Ireland’s small and insignificant voice at the European table…if this was France or Germany there’d be fk all maybe’s and they’d be climbing their own arses to get t resolved. It demonstrates how utterly ineffective our crowd are in Europe and continue to wait to be served while we suffer on and on..

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    Mute Nially OC
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    Sep 14th 2012, 5:59 PM

    The picture is of Jean Claude Juncker and not Jean Claude Trichet … for what it’s worth !

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    Sep 14th 2012, 7:17 PM

    They may have as well have had a picture of Jean-claude van Damme for what pt it’s worth

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    Mute Slap'stick Ireland
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    Sep 14th 2012, 7:24 PM

    Trichet is just another puppet carrying out orders. I find it hard to believe,We (Irish) haven’t copped on to this stageshow being played out via controlled media. seriously, We now need to wakes-up.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Sep 14th 2012, 4:59 PM

    Forgive the typos…should read financial and smacks..

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    Mute Catherine lonergan
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:30 PM
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    Mute Mick Collins
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    Sep 14th 2012, 3:48 PM

    Round up the usual suspects.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 14th 2012, 11:44 PM

    Sorry Mick, Enda’s not available he doesn’t do debates or conversations. Would have thought you knew that?

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