Teenager carrying anencephalic fetus is granted right to travel to UK for abortion
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39212.629653.DB (Published 17 May 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:1026
- Clare Dyer, legal correspondent
- BMJ
A pregnant 17 year old in state care in Ireland won the right last week to travel to the United Kingdom to abort the anencephalic fetus she is carrying.
The case at the High Court in Dublin has reopened a highly charged debate over abortion in Ireland, where the constitution protects the right to life of the unborn child and terminations are illegal unless there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother.
The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE), which has care of the teenager under an interim care order after an incident involving her mother, had written to the Passport Office pointing out that it had …
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