Set the Record Straight Campaign
Abortion never saves a mothers’ life – it just kills a baby.
Here’s some basic facts about abortion:
- Abortion is the deliberate killing of an unborn baby
- There is absolutely NO medical necessity for abortion – there are NO medical conditions which are cured by abortion
- Ireland is the safest place in the world for a mother to have a baby according to the UN [1]
- If ANY medical condition arises during pregnancy, such as cancer or ectopic pregnancy, doctors in Ireland will ALWAYS treat the mother even if that gives rise to the unintentional death of their baby. That’s because the object of this treatment is to save the mother, not to kill the baby. These medical treatments are NOT abortion, and it’s dishonest and cruel to pretend otherwise.
[1] Report on Maternal Mortality by World Health Organisation, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank, 2007
Here’s what the experts say:
The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guides the doctors who care for expectant mothers. The Institute’s Chairman, Professor John Bonner, told a Dáil Committee in 2000:
“It would never cross an obstetrician’s mind that intervening in a case of pre-eclampsia, cancer of the cervix or ectopic pregnancy is abortion. They are not abortion as far as the professional is concerned, these are medical treatments that are essential to save the life of the mother.”
So let’s set the record straight – abortion never saves a mother’s life. It just kills a baby. And it’s absolutely untrue to claim that necessary medical treatment for cancer and other conditions are abortions.
More on what the experts say here
Mothers and babies deserve better. Keep Ireland abortion-free
Mothers Speak Out : Personal Testimonies
Testimony of Rene
“I was so excited when we found out we were expecting a baby. But the baby had developed in my fallopian tube – it was an ectopic pregnancy. The doctors in the Rotunda Hospital had to act immediately. They saved my life, but they couldn’t save my baby. It was heartbreaking.
Now I hear pro-abortion campaigners claiming that treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is abortion. The Irish Family Planning Association is trying to get the European Courts to foist abortion on Ireland - and one of their arguments is that when women (like me) need treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, we’re having an abortion. That’s absolutely untrue – and it’s really wrong to try to scare women by claiming necessary medical treatments are abortions. Abortion doesn’t save mothers – it kills babies. I was so upset that I immediately contacted a doctor whom I trusted and who would not fudge over the issue. She reassured me that I had not had an abortion and that in Ireland ectopic pregnancy and other serious conditions are dealt with – but that there is a huge difference between treating a woman who is in danger of death and the deliberate targeting of her unborn child.
I realize now that abortion campaigners are either complete ignorant of the reality of the care of pregnant women in this country, or, they are willing to even lie to further their aim of having abortion introduced into Ireland. They showed absolutely no sensitivity to the grief of mothers who lost their babies in this way. I think about my baby boy every day. I didn’t want him to die. And it hurts to see his death used to push for abortion.”
God bless, Rene
Testimony of Emma
When I was three months pregnant I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a shock - and all those emotions and hormones just clashed. I needed to start chemotherapy immediately and the doctors explained to me that the treatment wouldn't harm the baby. I was worried though, and then things got worse when the cancer spread and they had to remove my breast.
It was a really tough time, but thank God, the baby was fine. I couldn't really breastfeed her after she was born but I was so glad we were both doing well that I didn't really care about that.
I don't understand why anyone tries to say that our ban on abortion would put women in danger. It's just not true, and I know that from experience. The truth is that the doctors treated us both - and saved us both, probably because that's what they've learned to do when the easy option of abortion isn't available.
In my opinion abortion is bad medicine. It should be left in the Dark Ages where it belongs.
Emma
Testimony of Jennifer
I’m a nurse so when I became pregnant I pretty much thought I would know what to expect. I didn’t expect the pre-eclampsia I got however. I was only five months into the pregnancy and I was very swollen, but put it down to normal pregnancy discomfort – along with the constant trips to the loo and the sore back.
Then in one of my check-ups they found protein in my urine. My blood pressure was climbing and everything started going wrong. I started bleeding and was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. The consultant said they would have to deliver the baby, but despite all their best efforts she died. Poor little thing, she was just too tiny. We named her Albha.
It makes me incredibly angry when I hear Family Planning trying to say that what happened to me was an abortion. I know it wasn’t, the doctors know it wasn’t, so why are they trying to upset people? It’s totally unjustified.
Jennifer