Letter to the Editor
“The occasion of tragic death of Savita Halappanavar is not the time to be scoring political points or rushing to judgement as to the quality of care she received in University Hospital Galway. However the fact that she was apparently told that “this is a Catholic country” when her pleas for an abortion of her dying unborn child fell on deaf ears tends to suggest that her own wishes and medical criteria alone were not allowed to determine her care and ultimate fate. Are Hindus not allowed to live and die by the precepts of their own faith in this allegedly tolerant and multicultural island of ours?”
Woman ‘denied a termination’ dies in hospital – The Irish Times – Wed, Nov 14, 2012
Savita Halappanavar (31), a dentist, presented with back pain at the hospital on October 21st, was found to be miscarrying, and died of septicaemia a week later.
Her husband, Praveen Halappanavar (34), an engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway, says she asked several times over a three-day period that the pregnancy be terminated. He says that, having been told she was miscarrying, and after one day in severe pain, Ms Halappanavar asked for a medical termination.
This was refused, he says, because the foetal heartbeat was still present and they were told, “this is a Catholic country”.
She spent a further 2½ days “in agony” until the foetal heartbeat stopped.
Woman ‘denied a termination’ dies in hospital – The Irish Times – Wed, Nov 14, 2012
Speaking from Belgaum in the Karnataka region of southwest India, Mr Halappanavar said an internal examination was performed when she first presented.
“The doctor told us the cervix was fully dilated, amniotic fluid was leaking and unfortunately the baby wouldn’t survive.” The doctor, he says, said it should be over in a few hours. There followed three days, he says, of the foetal heartbeat being checked several times a day.
“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’.
“Again on Tuesday morning, the ward rounds and the same discussion. The consultant said it was the law, that this is a Catholic country. Savita [a Hindu] said: `I am neither Irish nor Catholic’ but they said there was nothing they could do.
“That evening she developed shakes and shivering and she was vomiting. She went to use the toilet and she collapsed. There were big alarms and a doctor took bloods and started her on antibiotics.
“The next morning I said she was so sick and asked again that they just end it, but they said they couldn’t.”
Critically ill
At lunchtime the foetal heart had stopped and Ms Halappanavar was brought to theatre to have the womb contents removed. “When she came out she was talking okay but she was very sick. That’s the last time I spoke to her.”
At 11 pm he got a call from the hospital. “They said they were shifting her to intensive care. Her heart and pulse were low, her temperature was high. She was sedated and critical but stable. She stayed stable on Friday but by 7pm on Saturday they said her heart, kidneys and liver weren’t functioning. She was critically ill. That night, we lost her.”
Mr Halappanavar took his wife’s body home on Thursday, November 1st, where she was cremated and laid to rest on November 3rd.
Whatever you do, don’t get pregnant in Ireland, and if you do, don’t get sick… Of course the “Right to Life” movement will tell you that situations where a doctor must choose between the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child never happen.
Campaigners call for legislation after death of pregnant woman – The Irish Times – Wed, Nov 14, 2012
United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly said the Government’s refusal to legislate for abortion had “contributed to the circumstances” which led to Ms Halappanavar’s death.
“A woman has died because Galway University Hospital refused to perform an abortion needed to prevent serious risk to her life,” Ms Daly said.
“This is a situation we were told would never arise. An unviable foetus – the woman was having a miscarriage – was given priority over the woman’s life.”
Ms Daly said the ULA intended to resubmit a private member’s Bill to legislate for abortion on the basis of the X Case, which the Government voted against in April.
Director of the National Women’s Council Orla O’Connor said Ms Halappanavar’s death was “horrific and needless”, and called on the government to take immediate action to legislate.
“It is simply unacceptable that 20 years after the X Case ruling women and doctors are still waiting for the much needed legal clarity,” she said.
“Savita Halappanavar’s death tragically highlights the urgent need for legislation giving effect to the constitutional right to abortion where the life of the mother is at risk.”
Anti-abortion campaigners have criticised pro-choice groups for “exploiting” the death of Savita Halappanavar to further their own agenda.
Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said the loss of Ms Halappanavar’s life was not caused by Ireland’s ban on abortion, and it was “very sad to see abortion campaigners rush to exploit this case”.
“We need to ensure that mothers and babies are best protected, and abortion is not part of best medical practice. It is medieval medicine,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Government is acting with all due haste. Only 20 years after the Courts ruled, in the “X” case, that the government needed to legislate to vindicate a mother’s right to life, the Government is considering another report on the matter…
Campaigners call for legislation after death of pregnant woman – The Irish Times – Wed, Nov 14, 2012
Speaking in Cork this morning, Dr Reilly said a Government-appointed expert group on abortion headed by Mr Justice Seán Ryan had submitted its report to the Government yesterday.
The expert group was set up last year to examine the decision of the 2010 European Court of Human Rights in the ABC case, which concluded that abortion would be legal where there was a risk to the life of the woman.
“The report has been a bit delayed but it landed in my department last night,” Dr Reilly said.
Perhaps Savita Halappanavar’s tragic death will help prevent it gathering dust on the shelves for another 20 years…
