WE HAVE NO SPECIFIC ABORTION LAW, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF IRELAND THIS WEEK, ALTHOUGH THE PRE-WAR REVISED PENAL CODE CONTAINS PROVISIONS CRIMINALIZING ABORTION, AS A GENERAL RULE.
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[JURIST] The Irish Parliament [official website] voted 127-31 Friday in favor of a bill that would allow a woman to undergo an abortion if her life is at risk. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill [text, PDF] was passed after contentious debate [CNN report], particularly concerning a provision that allows a woman to undergo an abortion if she is at risk of committing suicide. Opponents argue that this provision will allow any woman to threaten suicide just to undergo the procedure. A provision allowing abortions if the woman is the victim of incest or rape was not included in the final version. The legislation also includes criminal penalties for women who undergo unlawful abortions or for doctors and hospitals that perform them.
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