Fear of abortion 'floodgates' opening 'completely unfounded', says legal expert
A legal expert has told the Oireachtas Committee looking at abortion legislation that fears of the floodgates being opened to widespread terminations are "completely unfounded".
Lawyers are appearing before the committee on day two of hearings before the coalition publishes legislation and regulations.
Ciara Staunton from NUI Galway said that medical professionals have to be trusted for their clinical judgement that the threat of suicide is connected to the pregnancy.
"There's this fear that there would be floodgates," she said.
"That fear is completely unfounded and it suggests that there would be some sort of collusion between the pregnant woman and the doctor.
"That is not the case.
"We trust our doctors in every other clinical judgement they make, and we must continue to trust our doctors when it comes to the issue of abortion.
"It is very clear that it's only if the risk of suicide is linked to the preganancy, that case, there is a lawful abortion."
