When Hope Is Replaced with Heartbreak: Why Are TDs Not Promoting Life-Affirming Care?

26.03.2025

On March 26th, 2025, the Irish Independent published an article that should stop our nation in its tracks.

It revealed a number of devastating cases where unborn babies were wrongly diagnosed with life limiting conditions — children believed to have no chance of survival, when in fact, they were healthy or had conditions that were survivable.

In the wake of these misdiagnoses, many parents made the decision to end their pregnancies, some were tragically encouraged to opt for abortion. Only later did they learn the truth — that their babies may have lived.

These aren’t just clinical mistakes. These are lives lost. These are parents left with lifelong grief and regret, all because they were misinformed and offered no real alternative.

And so we ask: Where was the option for life?
Where was the perinatal palliative care, the second opinions, the space for hope and support, instead of encouragement to abortion?

In 2018 when abortion was legalised Ireland was promised that abortion would be “safe, legal, and rare.” What we’re seeing instead is a healthcare system that too often defaults to abortion, even when there may be life-affirming alternatives.

But perhaps more shocking is the silence of our elected representatives.

Why are government TDs not championing perinatal hospice care for babies with life-limiting conditions?
Why are they not funding real supports for families in these tragic situations?
Why is there so little political will to promote compassionate care over ending life?

It’s time our leaders started promoting real care, real compassion, and real alternatives to abortion.

Will they listen?