Dr Ruth Fletcher, Senior Lecturer in Medical Law at Queen Mary University of London, has advised civil society groups and politicians on abortion law reform in Ireland. With Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain she worked with Termination for Medical Reasons and Clare Daly TD on a Private Members Bill for the legalisation of abortion in cases of fatal foetal anomaly.
The Bill was voted on and defeated in the Irish Parliament on 10 February (see here irishtimes.com for a report). Ruth is also one of the legal experts advising Labour Women's Commission on Repeal of the Eighth Amendment. The amendment constitutionalises 'the right to life of the unborn' and restricts the possibilities for legal reform on abortion care.