Taoiseach Enda Kenny, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness, we demand 21st Century Health Care provision for
the women of Ireland both North and South.
Last
month Savita Halappanaravar died in University Hospital, Galway after being
denied a termination of her non-viable pregnancy. Despite repeated requests for
medical assistance and though experiencing great suffering, she was left to the
die in agony. This wholly unnecessary and tragic death was entirely
preventable, but due to the thoughtless, theocratic legal restraints that exist
in Ireland, both North and South (Offences against the Person Act, 1861). As a
consequence of this draconian legislation, Savita’s care providers were left
unwilling and unable to provide any semblance of adequate medical intervention.
In
our pluralist and supposedly modern country, such state condoned negligence is
no longer acceptable. Savita is but the latest and most publicised victim of
this abhorrent situation. Countless other women have had to resort to illegal
terminations, with all the horrific consequences that this entails or flee the
country of their birth to receive adequate health provision. No more.
Immediate
reform of this outmoded, inhumane and ill-defined legislation is essential, if
we are to regard ourselves as a modern and compassionate country, both North
and South.