Landmark Judgement in Case of Pregnant Woman on Life Support

The High Court has released their judgement today in the case of a pregnant woman who is on life support. The court has ruled that the life support for the woman can be withdrawn at the discretion of her medical team. The judgement was announced at noon today by Justice Nicholas Kearns who stated that the court is “satisfied, in the circumstances of this case, that in the best interest of the unborn child, it should authorise at the discretion of the medical team the withdrawal of ongoing somatic support being provided.” He added: “to maintain and continue the present somatic support for the mother would deprive her of dignity in death and subject her father, her partner and her young children to unimaginable distress in a futile exercise which commenced only because of fears held by treating medical specialists of potential consequences."

Doctors had stated that they needed clarification on the matter due to the 8^th Amendment.

The woman, who had suffered a serious brain trauma, was being kept on life support after being declared brain dead on December 3rd. Doctors did not turn off the life support machine due to worries about the right to life and constitutional rights of her unborn foetus. The court heard evidence that the outlook for the unborn child was very poor. The family of the woman, who has two other children, told a special sitting of the High Court earlier this week that it was their wish for her life support to be terminated.