From The Independent UK: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/this-is-a-catholic-country-woman-dies-of-septicaemia-after-being-refused-an-abortion-in-irish-hospital-8315609.html
A woman has died from blood poisoning after Irish doctors allegedly refused to perform an abortion stating ‘this is a Catholic country’.
An investigation has been launched into the death of Savita Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant and suffering a miscarriage and septicaemia.
The 31-year-old dentist’s husband Praveen says his wife had complained of agonising back pain when admitted Galway University Hospital.
She was found to be miscarrying, but doctors repeatedly refused to carry out a medical termination because the foetus’s heartbeat was present.
Mr Halappanavar, 34, also claims that after several requests by his late wife for a termination, they were told: “This is a Catholic country.”
Abortion is illegal in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Halappanavar’s death is expected to spark a backlash against the Irish Government for failing to reform health laws to allow abortion if the life of the mother is in danger.
A protest has been planned for the front of the Dail parliament this evening.
Left-wing TDs (the Irish equivalent of an MP) Clare Daly and Joan Collins described the woman’s death as an outrage.
They criticised the Government for failing to adopt their X Case Bill earlier this year, which would have introduced new laws to allow an abortion in specific life-threatening circumstances.
Continue reading at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/this-is-a-catholic-country-woman-dies-of-septicaemia-after-being-refused-an-abortion-in-irish-hospital-8315609.html
