{"id":257034,"date":"2021-11-11T08:44:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T14:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=257034"},"modified":"2021-11-10T16:01:30","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T22:01:30","slug":"ireland-not-collecting-data-abortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/ireland-not-collecting-data-abortion\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland is reportedly not collecting data on at-home abortion complications"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Republic of Ireland’s health care system is not collecting data about any complications that arise from at-home abortions, the Irish Examiner<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

The admission came from one parliamentarian, who inquired about the information in the form of a Parliamentary Question. The minister was forced to admit that Ireland\u2019s Health Service Executive (HSE) was not collecting that vital data, which would give a clearer picture as to how the newly-expanded abortion scheme was impacting the women and girls of the country.<\/p>\n

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in April of 2020, Ireland moved to allow the two visits required with the abortion pill to be carried out entirely virtually. Prior to this move, an in-person visit determining gestational age and other information was required. A face-to-face interaction also meant a patient with any complications was closely followed. However, when the rules for first trimester abortions were amended, these in-clinic visits were downgraded to virtual or over-the-phone consults. Although the move was intended to be temporary, recent reports indicate that the current Minister of Health intends to make the move permanent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

READ: In the face of hostility, pro-life activists continue to protest legalized abortion in Ireland<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The move has been hailed by pro-abortion campaigners in Ireland, who have applauded the \u201cinnovative\u201d response by the government. \u201cWhilst there is a paucity of analysis conducted by the HSE pertaining to the benefits of telemedicine during Covid-19 for the prescription of abortion pills, we know that the introduction of telemedicine has been welcomed by health professionals and patients alike,\u201d said the Abortion Rights Campaign to the Examiner. \u201cIt was an innovative response by the government, one we know they got international praise for. The Abortion Rights Campaign recommends that telemedicine services introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic be made a permanent feature of abortion provision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin Duffy, a former consultant for abortion chain Marie Stopes International who is now a pro-life independent consultant and health researcher, has sounded the alarm about the essential nature of the safety data before permanently implementing a scheme that could see an increase in hospitalizations. According to a Freedom of Information investigation, 1 in 17 women<\/a> in England and Wales had some kind of complication from a self-managed chemical abortion, necessitating hospital treatment for 12,000 women since its approval. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) routinely under-reported<\/a> the rate of complications to the tune of less than 1 in 5. This mirrors data reported by Marie Stopes Australia and the US, Live Action News has reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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? Abortion Pill manufacturer states failure rate of 7.8%<\/p>\n

? Abortion Provider says medical abortion fails 5.48% of its clients<\/p>\n

? Abortion Activist says 6% of women using abortion pills need hospital treatment<\/p>\n

? FOI Investigation finds hospital treatment rate of 1-in-17.<\/p>\n

— Kevin Duffy (@KevinDTweets) October 28, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n