The leading authority on maternal deaths in Ireland has said there is no evidence of a higher risk of maternal death in Ireland due to the Eighth Amendment. In a letter to the Irish Independent, Michael O’ Hare, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and the Chairman of the Joint HSE/Institute-of-Obstetrics-and-Gynaecology Working Group on Maternal Mortality based at University College Cork wrote that he was “concerned about misinformation being circulated in the media in respect of an alleged contribution of the Eighth Amendment to maternal mortality and morbidity in Ireland”. The Working Group, MDE Ireland, found that , “the maternal mortality rate in Ireland has not been statistically significantly different from the UK” and, regarding maternal morbidity, “Irish rates compare favourably with published Scottish data”. He said it was important to note that “none of the consecutive reports published by these two national audits of obstetric practice raises any concerns in relation to the Eighth Amendment”. He continued: “The conclusion is obvious – there is no evidence whatever of a higher risk of maternal mortality or severe morbidity in Ireland as a result of the Eighth Amendment”. For further details on the MDE, see this link.