Medical Card Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Ceisteanna (500)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

500. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a definition of terminal under the medical card assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44273/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am advised by the HSE that, for the purpose of the decision making process for an emergency medical card, in these circumstances, a "Terminal Illness" or a person that is "Terminally Ill", is a person that is certified by a doctor or a consultant as "Terminally Ill". Terminally Ill means that the person is suffering from an illness that will end in death where there is no possibility of recovery and the person is more likely to die of his/her illness in the next six months than not.