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Ireland's controversial new abortion law is to come into effect on January 1.The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 will allow doctors to end pregnancies when there is a "real and substantial" risk to a woman's life - including the threat of suicide.It still bans termination in cases of rape, incest, inevitable miscarriage and fatal foetal abnormality.Health chiefs said the regulations outlined when a termination could be carried out, information on notification, and details on applying for a review of a medical opinion.A priest recently resigned from the board of one of the country's largest Catholic-owned hospitals after it agreed to carry out abortions under the legislation.The outspoken Dublin cleric Father Kevin Doran insisted he could not in conscience subscribe to the Mater hospital's plan to comply with legislation.Ireland abortion row Protests held in Dublin after Ms Halappanavar's deathThe Mater, in Dublin's north inner city, is one of 25 named in the legislation where a pregnancy can be terminated if the woman's life is in danger.The controversial abortion debate was re-ignited late last year when Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar died from septic shock after she was refused a termination as she miscarried because a foetal heartbeat was present.An inquest returned a verdict of medical misadventure while two major reports found doctors in the Galway hospital had missed several early opportunities to end her pregnancy on health grounds and unacceptable clinical practice.Her widower Praveen Halappanavar is taking legal action against health chiefs.The Irish government has also been accused of violating the basic human rights of women forced to travel to Britain for an abortion when diagnosed with fatal foetal abnormality.
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Topic: Ireland's Abortion Law To Come Into Force (Read 461 times)
