John Bruton
Ceist:124 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the problems of interpretation that exists in regard to the guideline issued by the Medical Council in regard to abortion to which he referred in recent parliamentary replies.
Written Answers. - Medical Council Guidelines on Abortion.
It is clear from the reaction to the Medical Council's recent statement on ethical guidelines, particularly by members of the medical profession, that the statement is open to different interpretations in respect of whether it would or would not be ethical under the proposed guidelines to terminate a pregnancy in the circumstances set out in the Supreme Court decision in the "X Case". The further statement issued by the Medical Council, following my request that they clarify the matter, does not, in my view, resolve this problem.