31 year old Savita Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital for severe back pain. She was told that she was miscarrying and that nature would take it’s course in a few hours. Unfortunately, it took longer than that and Savita was in agony for 2.5 days. She kept asking the doctors to terminate the pregnancy as it was not viable anyway. The doctors refused to abort the fetus since it still had a heartbeat (Ireland has strict anti-abortion laws) and told her “this is a Catholic country”.
Ultimately the fetal heartbeat stopped, and the doctors operated on her. It was too late by then - Savita had been leaking amniotic fluid for 3 days and got a severe infection (septicaemia). She died soon after the surgery.
Look at her picture in the article - seeing her so happy and radiant makes it even sadder. She had her whole life to look forward to. This is why religious nutjobs need to stay away from medical care.
Can you imagine how the west would react if this happened to a western woman in India or Pakistan?
Ironically, Savita would have most likely been alive if she was in India. Indian law states that life of the mother takes precedence over the fetus.
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
and does Irish law not allow the mother's life to take precedence?
I thought that would be the case there too.......
Ireland had a blanket ban on abortions till 20 years ago. The Irish supreme court then ruled that abortion must be made available to a woman in life-threatening situations. Problem is, this has not been made a law by successive governments, due to extreme pressure from right wing organizations. The government has basically been dilly-dallying on this decision because abortion is such a sensitive issue.
From what I read, every year 5000 Irish women are forced to go to the UK to get abortions.
So in Savita's case the doctors were scared of being caught on the wrong side of the law and waited till it was "legal" to help her. By then it was too late.
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
Not sure, maybe a Dr on this forum can answer that.
The point remains, though - why should a woman be forced to undergo a major invasive surgery if there are easier options available? (like inducing labor, D&C)
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
This is what happens if religion influence policies. Religion has not place in modern policy making. More often than not it messes the rights of minority, women or other section of society.
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
Just saw this on the news - over 20,000 protesters gathered in Dublin to call on the government to legislate on the abortion issue. It was a huge turnout, goes to show that the Irish people are sick of this. Hopefully the government is shamed into action.
For me, the most poignant poster at the protest said "Savita had a heartbeat too"
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
That's why Catholics and the rest of Non-Muslims should embrace Islam. Under Islamic laws, the woman would get abortion at the right time in order to save her life.
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
^ So your solution to this problem is that the whole of Ireland should convert to Islam? Brilliant.
Exactly! Turn to Islam and make Ireland a better country.
Actually people in different parts of the world use their little brains differently. That's why we have different laws in different countries, though humans are the same with same morphology and physiology. Allah is the Creator and Islam is the only solution to humanity!
Re: Indian woman dies after being denied an abortion in Ireland
I removed off topic text and sorry to diwana, i was wrong in bringing it up, but I m really fed up by anyone preaching Islam in this way, I may be wrong, but be it.
