Abortion misdiagnosis: Couple did not fear caring for sick child

More information about the tragic and shocking events that led to the abortion of a 15 week old baby misdiagnosed with a "fatal abnomality" has emerged. 

RTE reported today that the parents did not fear caring for a very sick child, but were told their baby had a "fatal abnormality". 

The couple told RTÉ News: "We did not take the steps to terminate lightly and we were not scared of the prospect of caring or loving a very sick child. We were told this was a 'fatal foetal abnormality'."

The devastated family have previously said that they never raised the issue of abortion, that doctors insisted there was "no hope" for their baby, and they were told not to wait for the results of a diagnostic test as it would make 'no difference'. 

In fact, when the test came back it showed that the baby was perfectly healthy. By then, however, the child had already been aborted. 

The distressing case has shocked the nation - happening just three months after Simin Harris rushed his abortion bill through the Dáil. Parents from the support group Every Life Counts said that they had tried to warn that parents would feel pushed into abortion without safeguards if he 8th was repealed, but the Health Minister refused to meet them. 

RTÉ reported that the couple at the centre of the misdiagnosis case say "they feel 'abandoned' and led to believe there would be an investigation by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK."

"They have called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to intervene to establish an independent inquiry into their case, which would also establish if other such cases occurred and if there were any ongoing issues of concern."

"RTÉ News has learned that Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has told Holles Street that it cannot undertake the review."

After the case was revealed by RTÉ News on 17 May last, Holles Street said it had asked the RCOG in the UK to do a review.

"But the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has told Holles Street that it cannot undertake the review, because it does not have the appropriate expertise amongst its team of assessors."