Termination for Medical Reasons (advocacy group)

Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) is a campaign and support group seeking to change the law in Ireland to allow terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities. Amanda Mellet (of Mellet v Ireland) is a founding member.[1][2][3] They campaign for better services for people who experience fatal foetal abnormalities. In 2016 they welcomed the Irish government's new guidelines on bereavement counselling for grieving parents.[4]

Termination for Medical Reasons
FormationApril 2012 (2012-04)
Type
WebsiteTermination for Medical Reasons on Facebook

Initial meeting with politicians

In April 2012, TFMR met with a group of 25 TDs and Senators who were investigating how to reply the European Court of Human Rights judgement in A, B and C v Ireland, and to ask for a change in Ireland's abortion law. Senator Rónán Mullen, who was in attendance, was not sympathetic to their cause,[5] asking what their real agenda was.[6][7][8][9][10] He later denied being nasty to the women.[11]

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013

During the debate on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, the group called for an exception to allow termination in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities,[12][13] however Taoiseach Enda Kenny claimed it would be unconstitutional to include that.[14][15]

Citizens' Assembly

In 2016 the Irish government set up a Citizens' Assembly to discuss Ireland's abortion laws. TFMR made a submission calling for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment and the removal of abortion from criminal law.[16]:p6

They were not invited to present to the Citizens' Assembly. Every Life Counts, a similar support/campaign group for parents of children diagnosed with fatal foetal abnormalities, but who are opposed to change in Ireland's abortion law, were invited.[17][18]

See also

  • Abortion in the Republic of Ireland
  • D v Ireland
  • Miss D

References

  1. Sheridan, Kathy (17 April 2012). "'I believe in a loving God and that I won't be damned for what I did'". The Irish Times. p. 13.
  2. Griffin, Sam (13 November 2013). "Couple to file UN petition after being forced to travel for abortion". Irish Independent.
  3. Drohan, Freya (17 December 2014). "Parents of aborted baby: 'It's very hard for us not to be cynical' about Varadkar's claims". Irish Independent.
  4. Clarke, Vivienne (10 August 2016). "New guidelines for grieving parents welcomed". The Irish Times.
  5. @TFMRIRE (21 April 2012). "@CoraSherlock @kencurtin @MagicMumCom it is not a claim it was indeed Ronan Mullen" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  6. @TFMRIRE (21 April 2012). "fyi re senetor ronan mullen his words were "you have a bigger agenda dont you" nasty comment to someone who had just lost their child END OF" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  7. "The Nasty TD…The Smirking Senator". Broadsheet.ie. 21 April 2012.
  8. "TFMR The Late late Show April 20 2012". The Late Late Show. 20 April 2012. RTÉ One. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  9. "MagicMum.com - View topic - FineGael TD : Fornication main cause of unwanted pregnancy". MagicMum.com. 19 April 2012. He told me i should of [sic] carried my baby till the end because Ireland has the best Palletive care in the world, he also said that he was sponosoring some child in africa that had one of the conditions that the other girl Ruths baby had. Then he asked one of us at the end of our session with them on the quiet he said "what is your :bomb: :bomb: :bomb: real agenda here?" this was to a girl who lost her daughter Aoife at 22 weeks
  10. Sheridan, Kathy (17 April 2012). "System 'ignores and stigmatises' women who travel for abortion". The Irish Times. p. 1.
  11. O'Carroll, Sinead (21 April 2012). "Ronan Mullen horrified at 'nasty' suggestions over abortion debate". TheJournal.ie.
  12. Minihan, Mary (26 June 2013). "Call for fatal foetal abnormalities amendment to Bill". The Irish Times.
  13. "Call on fatal foetal abnormalities". Irish Independent. 26 June 2013.
  14. O'Halloran, Marie (26 June 2013). "Unconstitutional to include fatal foetal abnormalities in legislation, Taoiseach says". The Irish Times.
  15. Brennan, Michael (27 June 2013). "Taoiseach refuses to change abortion law to cover fatal foetal abnormality". Irish Independent.
  16. "TFMR Ireland Submission to the Citizens' Assembly" (PDF). Termination for Medical Reasons. 14 December 2016.
  17. "17 Advocacy Groups to Address Citizens' Assembly on the Topic of Eighth Amendment". Citizens' Assembly. 21 February 2017.
  18. Pownall, Slyvia (26 February 2017). "Bereaved parents who lost babies due to fatal foetal abnormalities excluded from speaking at sitting of the Citizens' Assembly". Irish Mirror.
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