Irish teen in court abortion plea

[deadparrot]

A 17-year-old pregnant Irish girl is appearing in the High Court in Dublin to press for the right to travel to Britain for an abortion.

Doctors have told the girl that her four-month foetus will not live more than a few days beyond birth.

She is in the care of Ireland's health service which has issued an order stopping her from going to Britain.

But a lawyer for the girl argued that the health authority had no right to stop her travelling.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6618911.stm

[Divernan]

1. This woman's lawyer should look to her constitutional rights as an EU citizen.

Particularly under Part III, Title III, Chapter V, areas where the EU may take coordinating, complementary or supporting action: Section I - Public Health, Article III-278, Subsection l., specifically "obviating sources of danger to physical AND MENTAL (emphasis added) HEALTH.

Also, under Part II, Title V, Citizens' Rights
Article II-104, The Right to Petition: Any citizen of the Union and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State has the right to petition the European Parliament;
Article II-105 ,Freedom of movement and residence. l. Every citizen of the Union has the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member states.
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I think this is a situation in which many Irish politicians and judges would breath a sigh of relief if the decision were taken out of their hands by the EU.

Forcing a 17 year old to go through such a pregnancy is psychological abuse and detrimental to her mental health. The delays to date have left her in the second trimester of pregnancy, requiring a form of abortion which is more stressful both physically and mentally.

[rug]

3. That's an interesting point.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. kick and recommend

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

4. Since when are Irish people prohibited from travelling?

Instead of going public, perhaps the best way is to just GO to "wherever", and THEN see a doctor there..

Upon returning, who's to say she didn't just miscarry.

Honestly... part of the whole abortion issue is the total lack of PRIVACY about something that should be entirely private.

Until a woman is showing quite a bit, it's up to them to tell people they are pregnant to start with.. (for instance..I just found out the other day that a woman I know is pregnant.. we all assumed she has just put on a few pounds..she's 5 months, but chose to not tell people until she wanted to)

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. It's because a court has put her in care (not because of the pregnancy)

The HSE now claims that gives it the right to prevent her travelling for an abortion as well. If she was an adult, they definitely couldn't prevent her going.