66% 'back status quo on abortion', says survey for Pro Life Campaign

More than six out of 10 people support current medical practice to treat an expectant mother and her unborn baby as equals, a survey has found.

66% 'back status quo on abortion', says survey for Pro Life Campaign

More than six out of 10 people support current medical practice to treat an expectant mother and her unborn baby as equals, a survey has found.

The poll, for the Pro Life Campaign, revealed 66% are in favour of constitutional protection for the unborn child that bans abortion but allows medical intervention to save the life of a woman.

Caroline Simons, legal consultant to the group, said their findings show a high level of support for current medical practice in Ireland.

“What marks these findings out from other research is the way important ethical distinctions are clarified,” she said.

“A number of polls published recently citing support for abortion used the word ’abortion’ in the question without defining just what it meant.”

Some 970 adults were questioned last month for the survey, carried out by Millward Brown.

The Government announced plans in December to introduce a combination of legislation and regulation to legalise abortion as a last resort to save a woman’s life.

The new laws will be drafted in accordance with the 20-year-old Supreme Court ruling on the X-case, which allows for abortion when a woman’s life is in danger, including the threat of suicide.

The draft legislation is expected to be ready by Easter.

Professor William Binchy said the results give encouragement to the pro-life campaign and its argument against introducing abortion for suicidal ideation, which he maintained was completely unsupported by medics.

“What these polls indicate are that people in this country support the view that in Irish hospitals all necessary medical treatment should be given to mothers and their children,” he said.

“But in those circumstances they make absolutely sure that mothers will receive every treatment they need to preserve their life and that women will not die, even if this means the unborn child will die.

“In those circumstances the child dies as an unsought side- effect, there’s so question of targeting the child.

“The Government at the moment are considering introducing legislation that will actually involve the direct targeting of the unborn child, and these polls give very strong evidence this is not what people want.”

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Government to introduce State contributory pension for carers Government to introduce State contributory pension for carers
Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate
Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home  Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home 
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited