Woman was refused abortion

[Jazzy]

The Irish justice minister has said she is "concerned" about a woman and baby at the centre of a controversy over the state's new abortion legislation.

The woman had asked for an abortion but her request was refused, despite a panel of medical experts assessing her as being at risk of suicide.

She went on hunger strike, but later agreed to a caesarean and gave birth to a child, who will be taken into care.

Under the law, abortion is permitted if the mother is at risk of suicide.

Very few details about the woman's case have been released, due to a court order protecting her identity and that of the child.

However, the woman is understood to be very vulnerable.

The baby was delivered prematurely, at about 25 weeks.

On Sunday, Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: "I can't comment, as you can appreciate, on individual cases but obviously I would be concerned, and people reading the accounts will be concerned, for the woman and the baby involved.

"Clearly we passed legislation earlier in the year and we obviously will continue to monitor that legislation and see how it is being implemented," she told the Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act came into force on 1 January this year.

For the first time in Irish law, it set out when abortion is permitted.

Terminations are allowed when there is a threat to the life of the mother, including when she is at risk of suicide.

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In your opinion: Is being at risk of suicide a reason to grant an abortion? Why / Why not?

 

[Nebulous]

Odd law. Anyone who wants an abortion can just pretend they are a suicide risk.