Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013
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PART 2 Medical Procedures Lawful under Act | ||
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Chapter 1 Risk of loss of life of pregnant woman | ||
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Risk of loss of life from physical illness | ||
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7. (1) It shall be lawful to carry out a medical procedure in respect of a pregnant woman in accordance with this section in the course of which, or as a result of which, an unborn human life is ended where— | ||
(a) subject to section 19 , two medical practitioners, having examined the pregnant woman, have jointly certified in good faith that— | ||
(i) there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the woman’s life from a physical illness, and | ||
(ii) in their reasonable opinion (being an opinion formed in good faith which has regard to the need to preserve unborn human life as far as practicable) that risk can only be averted by carrying out the medical procedure, | ||
and | ||
(b) that medical procedure is carried out by an obstetrician at an appropriate institution. | ||
(2) Of the 2 medical practitioners referred to in subsection (1)(a)— | ||
(a) one shall be an obstetrician who practises as such at an appropriate institution, and | ||
(b) the other shall be a medical practitioner of a relevant speciality. | ||
(3) If practicable, at least one of the medical practitioners referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall, with the pregnant woman’s agreement, consult with the woman’s general practitioner (if any) for the purposes of obtaining information in respect of the woman from that general practitioner that may assist the medical practitioners in their decision as to whether or not to make a section 7 certification in respect of the woman. | ||
(4) Subject to section 19 , the certifying obstetrician shall— | ||
(a) forward, or cause to be forwarded, the section 7 certification to an appropriate institution, and | ||
(b) make such arrangements as may be necessary for the carrying out of the medical procedure to which the section 7 certification relates at the appropriate institution. |