Aja Teehan's Costs and Fees

My husband, Charles, and I sought a judicial review in the High Court of the policy of the HSE and the Minister for Health. This action was taken to establish that the HSE could not apply a blanket policy to all women, especially those women who had reason to believe the policy was being inaccurately applied in their circumstances. Instead, it would have to consider the medical evidence when seeking to overturn a woman's self-determination, and parental rights. Losing the case has meant that it has been ruled that the HSE are within their rights to use a blanket policy to govern women in pregnancy and labour; they do not have to provide an individual assessment, nor do they have to justify their policy with reference to the best available medical evidence.

Today, we learned that we do not have the pay the legal fees associated with the opposition's defence because the judge recognised the public importance of the issues raised. Unfortunately, it still remains that my family incurred substantial non-legal costs associated with running the case. In addition, any other birthing pathways open to me if I were 'under the radar' were lost; my only two viable remaining options are to birth unassisted in Ireland, or leave. I have decided to leave. Your donations will help to defray the financial burden placed on my family - and will help to ensure that the threat of financial hardship is not sufficient to deter women and families from taking future legal actions.

In the unlikely event that there are any monies raised over the costs incurred, we pledge to direct those immediately back into supporting women's rights to self-determination during pregnancy and birthing.

With Thanks,

Aja and Charles


P.S. For those of you who can transfer payments online with internet banking, you might like to avoid any charges and use our bank account details, available at the end of the blog post here: http://www.ajateehan.com/2013/09/fundraising-for-costs/