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It is the clear view of the Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland that these new guidelines are in reality the same guidelines as have already been rejected by the Assembly last October.
A criminal review of the abortion guidelines issued by the DHSSPSNI show that the Department has produced seriously flawed advice which could introduce a liberalised abortion practice in N Ireland.
Doctors who follow these guidelines may find that they are breaking the law.
Areas of serious concern include:
The complete ommission of the Unborn Child as a patient under the law
The mistaken advice that there is a defence to Child Destruction following the Bourne Case.
That “terminations” are like any other medical operation and similar rules of consent apply for young girls.
The deliberate ommission of relevant case law.
The deliberate ommission of part of the Child Destruction offence.
The misleading impression that doctors who will not committ direct abortions need a conscientious objection clause to rely on.
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Click below for a pdf copy of the Briefing Paper. This paper addressess the the criminal law on abortion in N Ireland. This paper outlines the main legal problems in the DHSSPSNI paper with citations and discussionaroung medical and legal issues.
CLICK THIS LINK FOR BRIEFING PAPER:
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The DHSSPSNI Consultation Document on the Guidelines can be seen by Clicking Here.
