Perinatal hospice care is the way forward: women and babies deserve better than abortion
08/10/2014 Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life has condemned Northern Ireland's Justice Minister - David Ford - after he announced that he is going to consult on changing the law to allow the killing of special-needs babies who may die before or shortly after birth. He also said he will consult on changing the law to allow the killing of unborn babies conceived through rape or incest.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth, said, “Abortion is a serious criminal offence in Northern Ireland. The law here protects unborn babies, and David Ford must not change it.”
“We all feel enormous sympathy for parents in these traumatic and distressing cases. But parents in these difficult situations deserve much more than our sympathy – they need a professional support system in place, which will provide them with help, support and resources. Precious Life are resolved to work towards a solution that loves and protects both mother and baby. We have called on the Health Minister and Department of Health to immediately establish perinatal hospice services for parents who have received a poor or difficult prenatal diagnosis for their baby. Parents and their babies are currently not receiving the loving life-affirming care and support they need” she said.
“It is very concerning that the Justice Minister is proposing to introduce grounds for abortion that have not even been specified in the 1967 Abortion Act. How will a healthcare professional determine whether a woman has been raped?” Ms Smyth continued. “To offer abortion to a woman who has been raped, a victim of degrading and brutal violence, is seen as a way of dealing with ‘the problem’. Abortion, however, is a degrading and painful invasion of a woman’s body. Once the woman takes the abortion pill or once she is on the operating table, she loses control of her body. In order for these women to find strength and hope, to choose life for their baby, we need to promote and implement a loving, life-affirming response to human suffering. These women should receive counselling to help them through their traumatic experiences, and any long-term financial or emotional support they need.”
With regard to the proposed consultation’s inclusion of a conscientious objection for healthcare professionals, Ms Smyth asserted that, “abortion is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland which must be upheld. There is no obligation in conscience to obey a law that permits the killing of unborn children. However, there is a critical obligation on healthcare professionals to oppose the killing of unborn children by conscientious objection.”
Ms Smyth concluded, “The core ethical principle which must underpin this discussion is that every child deserves the right to life regardless of how short their life may be, and regardless of the circumstances of their conception. Precious Life will embark on our own public consultation campaign, to let people’s voices be heard that every life matters; every unborn baby must be protected in law, policy and practice.”
--ENDS--