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Every Life Counts

Every Life Counts
TypeSupport group
Location
WebsiteEveryLifeCounts.ie

Every Life Counts is a support network for families whose child is diagnosed with a life limiting condition in the Republic of Ireland. They campaign for the creation of a perinatal hospice in Ireland, as an opposition to abortion in cases of life limiting conditions, claiming it is not a "pathway to healing", and that abortion causes depression and distress.[1][2][3]: p8 

They are opposed to the term "fatal foetal abnormalities" or "incompatible with life" calling it an "ugly term", preferring the term "life limiting condition".[4][2][3] They point out that some people diagnosed with life limiting conditions (e.g. Patau syndrome a.k.a. Trisomy 13), live for many years after birth.[5]

After the 2016 Mellet v Ireland UN case, they claimed the United Nations Human Rights Committee "deliberately ignored the experiences of families who had received great joy and love from carrying their babies to term".[6][7][8]

They made a submission to the Citizens' Assembly, which discussed Ireland's abortion laws, where they claimed that abortion is not a solution to a fatal foetal abnormalities diagnosis.[3]: p2  They were selected as one of the groups to make a presentation to the members of the Citizens' Assembly.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About and Support | Every Life Counts". Every Life Counts. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b Harkin, Tracy (14 July 2016). "Abortion not the only answer to life-limiting conditions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Every Life Counts (16 December 2016). "Every Life Counts Submission". Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. ^ "The Eight Amendment". The Irish Times. 29 June 2016.
  5. ^ Harkin, Tracey (4 December 2015). "My daughter is proof that the judge was wrong about 'fatal foetal abnormalities'". Irish Independent.
  6. ^ Edwards, Elaine (9 June 2016). "Government urged to make constitutional, legal change on abortion". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ^ Zhuang, Zara (25 November 2014). "'Stop saying fetuses with disabilities are incompatible with life'". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ "My daughter is proof that the judge was wrong about 'fatal foetal abnormalities'". Irish Independent. 12 June 2016.
  9. ^ "17 Advocacy Groups to Address Citizens' Assembly on the Topic of Eighth Amendment". Citizens' Assembly. 21 February 2017.