Woman 'denied a termination' dies in hospital
(Click on heading above to read story from Irish Times)
This was
the horror story that Ireland woke up to this morning!
As the day
progressed many voices from the ‘pro-life’ lobby protested that this tragedy
was being used by some to further the cause of abortion legislation in Ireland
and that it was far too soon to rush to judgement on the basis of newspaper
articles alone. It was also argued that our existing case law arising from the
‘X’ case would have allowed for a termination and that the fault lay with the
medical practitioners rather than the legislature.
Whatever the
truth in this specific case, and it is indeed true that we cannot be sure of
the whole story at this early stage, it is obvious that the current situation
is untenable. It seems that despite the ruling on the ‘X’ case there is enough
ambiguity and uncertainty around the grounds for a lawful termination to
suggest that the events that may have led to the death of Savita Halappanavar
could yet be repeated. That is an unacceptable prospect and so something must
be done. Twenty years of political inactivity appears to have resulted in the
most bitter of fruit.
Not
surprisingly there is no political appetite to legislate for the ‘X’ case.
Abortion is the single most divisive and dangerous issue that any politician
will engage with. It seems almost impossible to have a reasoned and tempered
discussion on the issue without it descending into bilateral abuse and
rhetoric. The main problem it seems to me with this debate as it has been
conducted to date is that it is dominated by the extremes. The ‘Pro-life’ and ‘Pro-choice’
groups have set themselves up in direct opposition to one another and any who
occupy the middle ground run the risk of being caught in the crossfire and so have
been sidelined and silenced. This despite the fact that this middle ground may
well be in the majority.
There is fault
to be found in both of the polar opposites as they have positioned themselves.
The ‘Pro-choice’ group have failed to take seriously enough the fact that
abortion is always a tragedy and should not be glossed over callously as no
more significant than a tooth extraction. Whether abortion on demand (which
incidentally I am absolutely opposed to) or due to threat to the mother’s life,
rape or unviability of foetus, it is the termination of life and to minimize
that is to undermine our own humanity. I say this not as a religious person,
which I am, but as a human being. Respect for life is not the sole preserve of
the religious.
When it
comes to the ‘Pro-life’ group the principal fault is ironically the failure to
take seriously the life of the mother. Their pro-life stance is somewhat
selective. The mother is portrayed as a vessel whose sole purpose is to support
the life within her with no account for her own humanity, welfare and
integrity. Her motivations in choosing abortion, no matter how traumatic or
medically necessary, are ignored and her actions are described in terms of
murder regardless of the circumstances. This is cruel and for want of a better
word tantamount to misogyny.
The only
hope for a reasonable debate and a mature and responsible approach to this
issue which we have never faced up to as a nation is for the middle ground to
find its voice. There is an alternative to the current polarisation which has
poisoned any attempts to find a way forward. It is possible to be both
‘Pro-Life’ and ‘Pro-Choice’. We can simultaneously respect the right to life of
the unborn and the life of the mother. Sometimes sadly there will be a conflict
and difficult choices may need to be made but if those decisions are made in the
context of an overarching respect for all life then while there will be pain
our integrity as human beings is maintained. If we refuse to let the extremes
dictate the agenda the previously vacated middle ground can become common
ground and we can show the world that there is a third way that isn’t about mothers
v babies but rather about discovering a much richer and comprehensive reverence
for all life
PS: Worth reading this which comes from friend and fellow blogger Ferdinand Von Prondzynski: Cruel Principles?
PS: Worth reading this which comes from friend and fellow blogger Ferdinand Von Prondzynski: Cruel Principles?
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5 comments:
Good to see you getting back into blogging. Twitter is no substitute.
Your balanced approach to controversial matters can provide an important reference point for Tweeters and contribute to a more balanced treatment on that forum too.
Rath ar an obair.
I absolutely agree - a very balanced analysis.
Póló & Ferdinand - Thank you both - Good to talk even if the subject is so tragic. Lets hope this is the beginning of a more open and mature approach to contentious issues.
I'm afraid I don't think your analysis is the correct one. Pro life/pro choice are all much of a muchness since the matter is subject to the Constitution. Remember the Constitution 'cannot' remove Rights. It is a Document that recognizes, I suppose in a sense a bit like a photo. It of itself is just a bit of paper. Therefore, NOTHING can remove from the unborn child the Rights intrinsic to the Sovereign Citizen. That the administration would like to do many things, mostly surrounding the making of you and me subject as we would stand before the common law, nonetheless there is nothing we by vote or they by Act can do since we are the State. We, in our individual person and we, as the collective.
What neither side to the question understand is that the legislature at this point can only remove the Westminster Act which has the potential to criminalise the medic should the DPP proceed. Or, a citizen can demand it be struck out by standing before the Supreme Court. You see what people forget is that the status quo anti ruling by the 1940s court which made all laws constitutional unless they weren't. To put that another way, in the 1990s the court didn't strike out the 1860s Act because they weren't asked. They did give warning, only the framers chose to ignore it, that the 1860s Act was now in it's entirety unconstitutional.
At this moment what we've got is mud, and why, well because it suits many to have it that way. The administration can persist expecting you to submit even though YOU are the sovereign. The Pro people can pretend they care about babies or women, depending. And the professions can live happily in a murky environment.
But at the end of the day nothing can change the Citizenship of the child. It is as deserving of the protection of the collective as any priest judge student unemployed or prisoner.
As to an answer, that new bit we put in the other day might provide one. There would be nothing preventing the child having an advocate when circumstances might require it.
Scientific ,technological & Medical actions should be based on logic and common sense. Religious rules should not interfere in the decision making and action. It is surprising that an advanced country like Ireland is making such a Gross mistake.
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