Deputy Peadar Tóibín put a number of questions to the Minister For Health over recent days following on from the shocking study which was published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recently (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32935467/)
He asked the Minister a number of questions around whether doctors had raised the concerns revealed in the study with the Minister, whether medics had expressed freedom of conscience concerns and about the date of the intended review of the abortion legislation. It is very important that our public representatives continue to ask pertinent questions and put pressure on the Minister and the Government around the horrific implementation of the abortion law. It is through this consistent pressure that change will ultimately come about. We encourage supporters to thank those TDs and Senators who continue to speak up for unborn babies and their mothers in Leinster House.
For Written Answer on: 24/11/2020
Question Number(s): 764 Question Reference(s): 38951/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION – To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent study (details supplied) in which a series of interviews with doctors carrying out abortions in Ireland reveals that babies born alive after failed abortions have been left to die; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32935467/ published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
REPLY – I am aware of the article to which the Deputy refers in his question, on ‘Fetal medicine specialist experience of providing a new service of termination of pregnancy for fatal fetal anomaly: a qualitative study”.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the parameters in which termination of pregnancy may be lawfully carried out in this country. Section 11 of the Act permits a termination of pregnancy to be carried out in cases where there is a condition present affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or within 28 days of birth.
The purpose of the legislation is not to dictate the practice of obstetrics. Medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.
For Written Answer on: 24/11/2020
Question Number(s): 765 Question Reference(s): 38954/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION- To ask the Minister for Health when he proposes to set a date for the mandatory three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
REPLY- As the Deputy will be aware, section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states that “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.”
The review clause was included in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in order to facilitate monitoring of the operation of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.
As set out in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future, the Department of Health intends to conduct the review in 2021.
For Written Answer on: 25/11/2020
Question Number(s): 200 Question Reference(s): 38952/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION – To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider offering psychological supports and counselling to women that have had abortions and to doctors and medics who have performed abortions given the findings of a study (details supplied). (Details Supplied) published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32935467/)
REPLY – I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a range of supports in this area are already well established.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has funded the provision of post-termination counselling services since 2008. All women who have had a termination of pregnancy are entitled to these services, which are provided free of charge in a range of locations across the country.
The HSE’s ‘My Options’ freephone counselling helpline became operational on 1 January 2019. The My Options Information and Counselling service is available from 9am-9pm Monday to Friday as well as Saturday 10am-2pm and is staffed by Counsellors. The telephone nursing service is available 24/7 and is staffed by nurses and midwives. My Options can provide an interpreter for 240 different languages and the ‘My Options’ leaflet has been translated into six languages.
In addition to other support services available, the HSE published the National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death in 2016. The purpose of the standards is to enhance bereavement care services for parents who experience a pregnancy loss or perinatal death. These standards cover all pregnancy loss situations from early pregnancy loss to perinatal death, as well as situations where there is a diagnosis of foetal anomaly that will be life limiting or may be fatal.
Since then, Bereavement Specialist Teams have been established in all 19 maternity hospitals/units across the country, to assist and support parents, families and professionals dealing with pregnancy loss. The teams are supported in their work by staff including social workers, palliative care teams and chaplains.
As part of the implementation of the National Standards, a national website is available for use as a resource specifically for parents bereaved through pregnancy loss and perinatal death, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. It includes information and contact details for Bereavement Support Teams in each maternity hospital/unit across the country, as well as other support services and resources for both parents and staff. The website is accessible at: https://pregnancyandinfantloss.ie/
For Written Answer on: 25/11/2020
Question Number(s): 201 Question Reference(s): 38953/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION – To ask the Minister for Health the number of ministerial notifications he has received under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if all ministerial notifications which identify the termination of pregnancy as having taken place under section 11 of the Act had, at the time of receipt by him, been signed off by two medical practitioners.
REPLY – As the Deputy will be aware, under section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out.
Section 20, subsections (3) and (4), require the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received in a given year not later than 30 June the following year and lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This report may then be published.
In line with section 20 of the Act, therefore, the Annual Report on Notifications 2020 will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on or before 30 June 2021. No data will be provided in advance of the publication of the Annual Report.
For Written Answer on: 25/11/2020
Question Number(s): 202 Question Reference(s): 38955/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION – To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has been contacted by doctors or medics who have expressed concerns regarding failed, botched or unsuccessful abortions; and if so, if he will detail the nature of that correspondence.
REPLY – As the material required to answer the Deputy’s question is not readily available, I have asked for his question to be deferred, to allow officials in my Department additional time to compile the information requested.
The response to the PQ will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
For Written Answer on: 25/11/2020
Question Number(s): 203 Question Reference(s): 38956/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
QUESTION – To ask the Minister for Health if he or his Department have been contacted by doctors or medics who have expressed a concern regarding conscientious objection; the details of these concerns; and the quantity of correspondence received on this matter since the rollout of abortion in January 2019.
REPLY – As the material required to answer the Deputy’s question is not readily available, I have asked for his question to be deferred, to allow officials in my Department additional time to compile the information requested.
The response to the PQ will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it is available.