Irish hospitals have been accused of providing insufficient care for several babies which have died after having been born alive following a ‘failed’ late-term abortion.
In response to a parliamentary question by Independent TD Ken O’Flynn, the Health Service Executive revealed that in 2022, twelve babies were born alive in Irish hospitals after attempted abortions and died shortly afterwards. Similarly, ten were born alive in 2020 surviving only briefly. Data was not given for other years.
In 2018, following the abortion referendum, TDs were accused of using “shock tactics” for suggesting that hospitals could be in a situation where ‘unwanted’ babies were born alive, and questioning what care would be provided for them.
Hard to fathom
O’Flynn said: “It is hard to fathom that babies are being born alive after abortions in Ireland and sadly you have to go round in circles just to get answers as to how the babies are treated once they come into this world.”
He called for “a lot more openness surrounding the medical care given to or withheld from the babies in these appalling situations.”
He added: “The answer to my parliamentary question should serve as the beginning, not the end, of the flow of information.”
Demand for accountability
The Pro Life Campaign posted on social media: “12 babies were BORN ALIVE after abortion in Ireland in a single year. This raises serious questions about what medical care they were given – or denied – before they died. Their short lives DEMAND accountability.”
Eilís Mulroy, a spokesperson for Pro Life Campaign, called the statistics “truly shocking” and called for clarity about the “so-called ‘comfort care’” these babies are provided with.
She urged the government “to show much more transparency and accountability on the questions and decisions surrounding late-term abortions. The treatment of babies in these situations is first and foremost a humanitarian issue which is why it must be brought into the light.”
Barbaric and cruel
One commenter on X posted: “Surely even allowing a live baby to die, without intervening to help is at the very minimum ‘manslaughter’ and at worst ‘murder’. How could any ‘sane’ or ‘civilised’ person allow such a thing to happen.”
Another wrote: “Barbaric and cruel whatever side you’re on. Nobody voted for this.”
One person criticised the Health Service Executive’s note that “it is rare for a baby to be born alive following termination of pregnancy”, posting: “12 in one year is not rare @hse. Vile. An absolutely vile practice.”
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