Article 40.3.3 has now been part of the Irish Constitution for 25 years, and this book considers the impact and effect of this unique provision which protects the right to life of the unborn child at a constitutional level. Few other provisions of the Constitution have provided as much controversy and legal impact as Article 40.3.3, and the contributors to this volume offer insights on it from a multiplicity of fields, including medicine, politics, philosophy, sociology and law. While most discussion on this topic takes place within the confines of a particular discipline, this book is exceptional as it addresses the 'right to life of the unborn child and the equal right to life of the mother' from each of these perspectives. This comprehensive volume offers a timely and vital analysis of the impact and development of this internationally unique provision.