Ireland's health officials refuse to answer questions about abortion survivors

(Pro Life Campaign) The [Health Service Executive (HSE)] is continuing to side-step answering serious and legitimate questions about the treatment of babies who survive late-term abortions in Ireland.

In response to a recent series of clear and specific parliamentary questions from Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn, the HSE acknowledged that some babies do survive abortion procedures. However, it declined to provide meaningful detail on the care afforded to these babies, or whether any life-preserving treatment is ever provided.

The HSE describes these cases as “rare”, but the official data tells a different story. Analysis of annual perinatal mortality reports indicate that over 100 babies have survived abortion procedures since the law changed in 2019.

While some of these babies were born at gestational ages too early to allow realistic prospects of long-term survival, the data also indicate that not all were. This raises unavoidable questions about the standard of care provided in such circumstances.

The HSE further states that factors influencing survival include “gestational age” and the “method of termination” – as though these were beyond its control.

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In reality, both are the result of deliberate actions – deciding to terminate a pregnancy at a stage where survival is unlikely, and selecting a particular abortion method, are intentional acts with foreseeable consequences.

It’s no wonder the HSE avoids giving straightforward answers. A full and forthright account would shatter the carefully maintained narrative surrounding so-called “abortion care”.

However, Ireland is a democracy. The public is entitled to clear answers on matters involving life and death. There is a collective responsibility to pursue the truth – a responsibility we can rely on pro-life TDs to continue to uphold – to restore a modicum of humanity to the treatment of these babies and to provide the public with the full truth of what is taking place in their name under Ireland’s abortion law.

Whether they want to or not, the Government is going to have to come clean about everything that’s taking place.