Ireland Upholds Pregnant Woman's Right to Death with Dignity, Allows Doctors to Stop Life Support

An Irish court has allowed doctors to stop life support to a pregnant brain dead woman, overruling the country's law that accords right to life for fetuses.

According to The New York Times, the 20-something woman suffered major brain trauma on November 29 and was declared brain dead four days later. She has been on life support ever since though her family was against it. Doctors treating her did not want to pull the plug as the Eight Amendment of Irish Constitution accords rights to life for fetus and does not allow abortion.

The family's plight has received much attention in Ireland. The family said their daughter was not being allowed to die with dignity as her body on life support had deteriorated rapidly, and the fetus had no reasonable chances of survival. More than half a dozen medical experts who reviewed the woman's condition testified in court that there were no chances for fetus survival, Business Insider reported.

The counsel for the woman's family also argued that it was medical intervention that was keeping the woman in a seeming state of life. Medication required to support life does not auger well for the survival of the fetus, they said while requesting court to permit doctors to stop life support. The High Court concluded that it was not a case of abortion of the 15-week fetus.

Ireland has strict antiabortion laws sanctioned by the constitution. The country witnessed wide spread protests against antiabortion last year following the death of an Indian due to a miscarriage that caused septic shock.