Workshops
2 Pregnancy and Childbirth: Mental Health Policy, Capacity and Supporting Decision-making
Given the subordination of all aspects of the pregnant subject in Ireland, it is no surprise that generations of women have experienced significant harms in pregnancy and childbirth. Yet, Irish cultural and legal frameworks have lacked the space to allow for an articulation of these harms. This workshop will look at reproductive and sexual health in mental health policy, and unwanted interventions in childbirth along with the evolving role of capacity and the importance of supporting decision-making.
The workshop considered papers covering specific issues relating to reproductive rights in the light of mental health policy and capacity. A presentation was delivered by Dr Richard Duffy, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Rotunda, and his research colleague Dr Eimear McGuire on ‘Women’s reproductive and sexual health in mental health policy: what is and what should be?’ and the network discussed the availability of Mother and Baby Units and community services and support, prescribing issues, ethics and policies on breastfeeding. Dr Claire Murray from UCC presented on ‘Unwanted interventions in childbirth: the evolving role of capacity and the importance of supporting decision-marking in Ireland’ with network members then discussing issues around case law, consent policies and the constitution, and medical decision making and legal cases relating to choice. In the afternoon the group reconvened and, with short overviews on current working practices provided by a range of clinicians and service providers, considered the impact and implications of public health measures put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic on a range of family health services and policy areas. There was an interesting debate covering legal, ethical and clinical issues and solutions which had to be considered in the light of current government guidance.
Some of the participants at the recent ELPIN online workshop