Ireland's abortion laws cause the death of 31 year-old woman

[Hillary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20321741

Woman dies after abortion request 'refused'

The death of a woman who was 17 weeks pregnant is the subject of two investigations at University Hospital Galway in the Republic of Ireland.

Savita Halappanavar's family said she asked several times for her pregnancy to be terminated because she had severe back pain and was miscarrying.

Her family claimed it was refused because there was a foetal heartbeat. She died on 28 October.

An autopsy carried out two days later found she had died from septicaemia.

Ms Halappanavar, who was 31, was a dentist.

Her husband, Praveen, told the Irish Times that medical staff said his wife could not have an abortion because Ireland was a Catholic country and the foetus was still alive.

Savita Halappanavar's family said she was suffering back pain and was found to be miscarrying when she arrived at the University Hospital Galway on 21 October

Over a three-day period, they said, she asked several times that her pregnancy be terminated.

The family said she spent a further two and a half days in pain and died on 28 October.

University Hospital Galway is to carry out an internal investigation. It said it could not comment on individual cases but would be cooperating fully with the coroner's inquest into Ms Halappanavar's death.

The Health Service Executive has launched a separate investigation.

Abortion is illegal in the Republic except where there is a real and substantial risk to the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother.

The Irish government in January established a 14-member expert group to make recommendations based on a 2010 European Court of Human Rights judgment that the state failed to implement existing rights to lawful abortion where a mother's life was at risk.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that the group was due to report back to the Minister for Health James Reilly shortly.

"The minister will consider the group's report and subsequently submit it to government," the spokesperson said.

Mr Halappanavar is still in India after accompanying his wife's body there for her funeral.

He told the Irish Times: "Savita was really in agony. She was very upset, but she accepted she was losing the baby.

"When the consultant came on the ward rounds on Monday morning, Savita asked if they could not save the baby could they induce to end the pregnancy.

"The consultant said, 'As long as there is a foetal heartbeat we can't do anything'."

The Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group said it extended its sympathies to Ms Halappanavar's family.

In a statement the group said its inquiry into Ms Halappanavar's death had not started yet because the hospital was waiting to consult with the family.

"In general in relation to media enquiries about issues where there may be onward legal action, we must reserve our position on what action we may take if assertions about a patient's care are published and we cannot speak for individual doctors or other medical professionals if a report were to name or identify any," it said.

Lest anyone forget that Theocratic issues are the preserve of the Middle East.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Good to see that Ireland is killing the hard working Indian professional women who make the provision of universal healthcare still possible during massive austerity measures. I'm sure that will go over so well--I hear the NHS is always hiring.

And I'm not sure what to say, other than the sheer dripping level of disgust I feel, because it's inevitable that the hospital chose to just reflexively say no "in case" of later litigation by the Catholic Church or enforcement measures from the state. Almost certainly a case of CYA by bureaucrats, writing the policies and leading to somebody's death.

[Guardsman Bass]

Was there something blocking her from going to the UK for an abortion? I've read that's what most Irish women who need abortions do.

[Crazedwraith]

Well, looking at the article. She was hopitalised as she thought she was miscarrying. Then spent three days there asking for an abortion before dying. I'd assume she didn't want/need an abortion before then and after she was hospitalised wouldn't release her to go to the UK while still in a serious medical condition.

[Guardsman Bass]

Well, looking at the article. She was hopitalised as she thought she was miscarrying. Then spent three days there asking for an abortion before dying. I'd assume she didn't want/need an abortion before then and after she was hospitalised wouldn't release her to go to the UK while still in a serious medical condition.

Thanks. My bad.