Home Page
About Us
What we do
News
Campaigns & Events
Abortion in N. Ireland
Resources
"I need help..."
Make a Donation
Find us on Facebook
16 / 07 / 2008 - DHSSPS `revised` guidelines are another attempt to legalise abortion through the back door
Precious Life, has warned that revised guidelines on “termination of pregnancy” issued by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) are another attempt to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland ‘through the back door’. The pro-life group says the guidelines are a “rehash” of guidelines that were rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly in October 2007. Precious Life will be working closely with the Assembly’s All Party Pro-Life Group to ensure the revised guidelines are rejected again.
The DHSSPS originally issued draft abortion guidelines in January 2007. The Northern Ireland Assembly passed a motion opposing the guidelines in October 2007. The DHSSPS have now issued revised guidelines for a 10 week consultation period from 16 July to 22 September 2008.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth stated "The DHSSPS' revised guidelines are nothing more than a rehash of the guidelines that were scrapped after the Assembly rejected them last October."
She added "These guidelines are skewed in favour of performing, rather that NOT performing, abortions. The DHSSPS even state in their press release that the aim of the guidelines is to clarify when abortion is legal in Northern Ireland. However, the law in Northern Ireland is very clear. Killing an unborn child is illegal and a criminal offence. The only exception is when the child dies as a result of a doctor's treatment to save the mother's life. These guidelines grossly exaggerate this exception, suggesting abortion is legal on grounds of mental health or suicide."
"So while the DHSSPS claim their guidelines will not change the law relating to abortion in Northern Ireland, they will change the interpretation of the law. These guidelines will effectively legalise abortion through the back door, allowing abortion on demand, right up to birth" she said.
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “It is very sinister that the DHSSPS have issued these guidelines during the Assembly's summer recess and have only allowed a 10 week consultation period rather than the normal 12 weeks. Precious Life will be working very closely with the All Party Pro-Life Group of the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure the DHSSPS scrap these guidelines and acknowledge the legal protection unborn babies have in Northern Ireland rather than creating legal loopholes to allow unborn babies to be killed in our hospitals.
The DHSSPS originally issued draft abortion guidelines in January 2007. The Northern Ireland Assembly passed a motion opposing the guidelines in October 2007. The DHSSPS have now issued revised guidelines for a 10 week consultation period from 16 July to 22 September 2008.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth stated "The DHSSPS' revised guidelines are nothing more than a rehash of the guidelines that were scrapped after the Assembly rejected them last October."
She added "These guidelines are skewed in favour of performing, rather that NOT performing, abortions. The DHSSPS even state in their press release that the aim of the guidelines is to clarify when abortion is legal in Northern Ireland. However, the law in Northern Ireland is very clear. Killing an unborn child is illegal and a criminal offence. The only exception is when the child dies as a result of a doctor's treatment to save the mother's life. These guidelines grossly exaggerate this exception, suggesting abortion is legal on grounds of mental health or suicide."
"So while the DHSSPS claim their guidelines will not change the law relating to abortion in Northern Ireland, they will change the interpretation of the law. These guidelines will effectively legalise abortion through the back door, allowing abortion on demand, right up to birth" she said.
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “It is very sinister that the DHSSPS have issued these guidelines during the Assembly's summer recess and have only allowed a 10 week consultation period rather than the normal 12 weeks. Precious Life will be working very closely with the All Party Pro-Life Group of the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure the DHSSPS scrap these guidelines and acknowledge the legal protection unborn babies have in Northern Ireland rather than creating legal loopholes to allow unborn babies to be killed in our hospitals.