Statement by TUV MLA Jim Allister:
“When the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists visited the All Party Group on Human Life I pressed them on the use of the term “fatal foetal abnormality”. It was my understanding that there is no such medical term and this was confirmed by those who appeared before the Committee.
“I welcome the fact that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has now put it on the record that: “the term Fatal Foetal Abnormality is not a medical term and is one that seems to have been initially used by the media but now seems to be accepted and used by the majority”.
“This blows a hole the logic behind the bill moved today designed to destroy Northern Ireland’s pro-life laws.
“There is an onus on the media having popularized the use of the term to stop using it. There is an even greater responsibility on legislators to drop the term from their vocabulary.
“The continued use of the term is frankly deeply insensitive to families which hear the news that their baby has a life limiting condition.”