Media Release 16th April 2014
Right to Life asks why a doctor who has committed a serious crime has not been brought before the Court?
The doctor called Dr N was found guilty of professional misconduct by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal for breaches of the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977, and for prescribing the drug Misoprostol unlawfully to four women for the purpose of terminating the lives of their unborn children. The drug acts by causing uterine contractions resulting in the death of the child in the womb. Doctor N has been granted permanent name suppression by the High Court.
The Tribunal suspended Dr N from practicing for six months last year and imposed a number of other requirements concerning the conduct of her practice. The Tribunal found that the doctor had acted unlawfully in breach of the Contraception Sterilisation Act 1977. The Act requires that abortions may be authorised by two certifying consultants appointed by the Abortion Supervisory Committee and that pregnancy counselling be available and offered. The law also requires that abortions take place only in a facility licensed to perform abortions. These requirements are there to protect the health and welfare of women and to protect the right to life of unborn children.