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There are now two categories of pro-lifers. The first group is concerned that our pro-life laws may have contributed to Savita’s death and they genuinely are open to the possibility that bad law may apply. The other group of pro-lifers congratulate Ireland as having a high standard of maternal care, ignoring the specific avoidable tragedy and persist in asserting that Irish law is clear. We must remember that for many decades the pro-lifers maintained the life of a pregnant woman and the interests of her foetus could never conflict. Ideology demand the disregard of inconvenient facts.
Irish law creates a deadlock, a medical intervention paralysis, a stalemate if the medical treatment of the mother, unless her life is clearly and substantially under threat, could or might accelerate the expiry of the foetus. In practice, this increases the probability that the pregnant woman may die regardless of the outcome for the foetus.
My personal value is that the life of a pregnant woman and a foetus are qualitatively different. I cannot accept that a pregnant woman would be relegated in terms of medical priority to parity with a mere foetus.
Dhakina’s Sword expresses it more bluntly and cogently than I have. He spells out the actual result, the consequence that Savita has died and the foetus was lost anyway, not having had any chance of survival. Pro-life results in the otherwise avoidable death of a woman. Such a tragic waste. There will never be any apology because an apology would recognise the enormity of the consequence of the 1983 Referendum.
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REPLIES
Or maybe some of us are Just sick of this incident being used to promote a particular agenda.
I don’t think it is fair to vilify the staff of any hospital without knowing the facts.
Annie I agree with you, and I have the utmost sympathy for this man.
I agree Joe. This tragic event is being hijacked by the more extreme elements of the pro abortion side. Until all facts are established it is impossible to attribute full blame.
Having said that the ditherings of previous and the present government in not dealing with fulfilling their obligation to legislating for the x case was and is cowardly. They continue to play with mothers lives on a daily basis by not putting in place clear legislation protecting medical professionals.