Savita Halappanavar, shown in a wedding photo, was refused
a termination and died from blood poisoning in an Irish
hospital. REUTERS/courtesy Yalagi family
Ireland's prime minister said today he would not be
rushed into making a decision on the issue of abortion, after
an Indian woman who was refused a termination died from blood
poisoning in an Irish hospital.
"This is a matter that has divided Irish society now for a
great number of years, and I am not going to be rushed into a
situation by force of numbers on any side," Prime Minister
Enda Kenny told state broadcaster RTE.
The Irish government pledged yesterday to clarify its
abortion laws.
A wave of protests have taken place across Ireland in recent
days in response to the death of 31-year old Savita
Halappanavar who died of septicaemia following a miscarriage
17 weeks into her pregnancy.
Activists in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, which
has some of the world's most restrictive laws on abortion,
say the refusal by doctors to terminate the pregnancy earlier
may have contributed to her death.
"This is something that has to be dealt with rationally, and
openly and truthfully and that is what will happen," said
Kenny.
A delayed expert report on abortion was submitted to the
Health Ministry this week and will be published after being
discussed by government, Kenny added.
Halappanavar was admitted to hospital in severe pain on Oct.
21 and asked for a termination after doctors told her the
baby would not survive, according to her husband Praveen.
The foetus was surgically removed when its heartbeat stopped
days later, but her family believes the delay contributed to
the blood poisoning that killed Halappanavar on Oct. 28.
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