Friday, September 27, 2013

Mater Hospital to comply with abortion law

The Mater Hospital has confirmed it will comply with the law as provided for in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.

Last month, a member of its board said it could not comply with the act.

Fr Kevin Doran had said the Catholic voluntary hospital cannot carry out abortions because they go against its ethos.

However, in a statement issue on Wednesday, the hospital said its "priority is to be at the frontier of compassion, concern and clinical care for all our patients."

"Having regard to that duty the Hospital will comply with the law as provided for in the act."

The Mater is one of 25 "appropriate institutions" named in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act where abortions may be carried out to save the life of a pregnant woman.

Under the act, individual medical practitioners who have a conscientious objection to abortion cannot be forced to carry out a termination. However, institutions enjoy no such rights.