Ireland approves law allowing limited rights to abortion

Ireland has legalised abortion under certain conditions.

06:45 13 July 2013

Lawmakers in the Republic of Ireland have passed a law that allows limited rights to abortion. The move, approved by a 127-31 vote in the lower house, authorises abortion if doctors deem that a woman is at risk of dying. The last was endorsed by the upper house as well.

Reportedly the approval of the law came after an Indian woman died in the hospital after she was refused an abortion.

The law specifies that abortion can only be an option if at least two doctors agree that the mother’s life is at real and substantial risk from continuing with the pregnancy. However, if there is an immediate threat to life, one doctor’s authorization would be sufficient.

Anti-abortion campaigners say the passage of the law will allow the intentional killing of the unborn. They believe that in any pregnancy, the mother and the foetus have equal rights to life.

On the other hand, reportedly other people have argued that the bill is too limited as it does not allow abortion in cases of incest or rape. It also doesn’t authorise termination if the foetus cannot survive outside the womb.