Irish court rules doctors can take pregnant woman off life support
Decision in the case of brain-dead patient sparks renewed abortion debate.
A decision by Ireland’s high court allowing doctors to remove a pregnant woman from life support has relaunched a national abortion debate. The woman, 18-weeks pregnant, had been declared brain dead after suffering an injury in November. She was kept alive under Ireland’s strict abortion laws.
Judges decided on Friday to grant her family’s wish that she be allowed to die, stating the decision made sense in this “tragic and unfortunate case”. The court’s ruling challenges the eighth amendment of the constitution, which “acknowledges the right to life of the unborn”.
Online, some people celebrated the ruling.
Published On 26 Dec 2014