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Health authorities in Ireland have begun investigating the death of a woman who died in hospital after being repeatedly refused an abortion.

Savita Halappanavar was 17 weeks into her pregnancy when she was admitted to hospital last month, suffering agonising back pain and miscarrying.

Her family says the 31-year-old asked for an abortion several times before she died of blood poisoning.

But staff at University Hospital Galway told her even though she was Hindu, she was in a Catholic country, and they could not induce her because there was a foetal heartbeat.

"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 said: 'I am neither Irish nor Catholic', but they said there was nothing they could do."

While 46% of sonography centres are registered in Bangalore division, Belgaum division and Mysore division each account for one-fifth of centres in the state. . It is interesting to note that just four districts (out of 27) together account for 50% of the sonography centres. Belgaum district, which is adjacent to western Maharashtra -- where the child sex ratio is extremely low -- ranks next to Bangalore Urban district in terms of the number of sonography centres, and has the lowest sex ratio in the state.

The Catholic School of Divine Providence in Tilakwadi, in the Diocese of Belgaum, in the Indian State of Karnataka, was attacked by vandals who shattered the windows and and damaged the structure. The violence, which occurred during the evening of 22 February, created panic among the Canossian sisters who run it, the students and parents. However, no one was injured. The local Church was immediately notified and passed on the information to police. Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum, expressed his great concern for what happened. This is the second attack on a Catholic school in the region in the last month. On 17 January the same thing happened to the school and convent of St Joseph in Camp

Ireland's government has pledged to clarify its abortion laws after an Indian woman who was refused a termination died from blood poisoning in an Irish hospital.

Irish law does not specify under what circumstances the threat to the life or health of the mother is high enough to justify a termination, leaving doctors to decide.

Critics say this means doctors' personal beliefs can play a role.

That made the evening news here, today.

Dr CVR Prasad, orthopaedic surgeon, Galway Clinic, Galway, Ireland, told TOI over the phone: "It's ironic that people from outside the country are putting pressure to change the laws and by-laws of Ireland. Savita's case is a focal point for people here. I think she was born to change Irish law. The demand for change in abortion laws has taken a momentum. The laws may not become as liberal as in India but I hope it pushes the law further."

He added the government has been dithering on this issue for about 20 years.

"India has an Act, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. But, there is no such legislation here. The administrators keep talking about it every few months, but nothing has been done. Religion shouldn't influence medical practice," he said.

Abortion in the Republic of Ireland is illegal unless it occurs as the result of a medical intervention performed to save the life of the mother. However the availability of abortion services can be even more restricted in the absence of a readily available method of determining the circumstances in which an abortion might be lawfully obtained.

Abortion is a controversial issue in Irish politics and five national referendums have been held on the topic in the last 30 years...

No clear result or consensus has emerged. In theory, abortion is legal in Ireland if there is a risk to the life of the woman. A provision exists in the Irish constitution to allow Dáil Éireann to legislate on this; however, no political party has risked it.

Dr. Savita Halappanavar was born in Belgaum in September 1981 and did her schooling from Vanita Vidyalaya and her PUC from RLS. She did her dentistry from KLE Dental college. She married Praveen Halappanavar in April 2008.

Andaneppa Yalagi and Akkamahadevi, parents of Savita were in Ireland and even taken her to hospital on October 21 when she had told about her back paining. But as their Visas were to expire they left on Oct 23 and reached India on 24 and Savita left this world on 28 October. As of now we have not heard of anyone protesting for this cause in Belgaum.

would not want her to go to India to abort

The decline in the child sex ratio (0-6 years), as reported by the Census of India, from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 914 females per 1,000 males in 2011 - the lowest since independence - is cause for alarm and urgency. The situation has worsened, despite the existence of a law banning the use of medical diagnostic technology for sex selection., several cash incentive schemes, and some mass media messages on the issue.

In the following month, Bentinck and his council of three other Britons promulgated a regulation or law declaring the practice of sati to be illegal and punishable in British criminal courts. Lord Bentinck was assisted by an Executive Council of three other British officers in formulating the policies to govern the Company’s political possessions in India. First, he had to convince his Councilors of the validity of his decision to prohibit sati so that they would vote to support his position. Then, they collectively issued a Regulation that became the law within the areas that the Company directly ruled, which included about one third of the Indian subcontinent in 1829. Consider how this Regulation as a public document justified the prohibition on sati and then sought to answer objections to the prohibition among Hindu supporters of sati.

In fact, Ireland, without abortion, is recognised as one of the safest countries in the world to be a pregnant mother. This is something about which we should be proud and is a tribute to the excellent care provided by hospital staff who treat both mother and unborn child with equal dignity and respect as people in their own right. Clearly, if the life of the mother is threatened, by illness or some other medical condition, the care provided by medical professionals will make sure that she receives all the medical care needed.

In a small number of cases, however, the treatment given may unintentionally result in the death of the unborn child. But in such cases the life is never directly and intentionally taken and everything is done to save the child.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr Ruth Cullen of the PLC warned that Ireland’s medical council guidelines are clear that women in pregnancy must be given all necessary medical treatment. She welcomed the announcement of a full investigation to establish what went wrong in the case of Savita Halappanavar.

Meanwhile, Catholic Comment spokeswoman, Petra Conroy, described the death of the 31-year-old dentist as a tragic loss. “While we don’t know the full facts of the cause of death, it is clear that under current medical practice in Ireland, she should not have been denied treatment necessary to save her life.”

Ms Conroy added, “She should not have been told she could not receive necessary medical treatment because ‘this is a Catholic country’.”

It is also vitally important to acknowledge at this time that Ireland, without induced abortion, is recognized by the UN and World Health Organisation as a world leader in protecting women in pregnancy and is safer than places like Britain and Holland where abortion is widely available.”

....

Quote:

The result of the investigation into Ms Halappanavar’s death will make the facts known, and journalists have been rushing to pre-empt those investigations when they are not in full possession of the facts.

Explaining the complication Savita found herself in, Dr. Divakar — president-elect of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) for 2013-2014 — told The Hindu on Thursday: “Based on information in the media, in that situation of septicaemia, if the doctors had meddled with the live baby, Savita would have died two days earlier.”

Cause of death

“Delay or refusal to terminate the pregnancy does not in itself seem to be the cause of death. Even if the law permitted it, it is not as if her life would have been saved because of termination,” she said. “Severe septicaemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a life-threatening bleeding disorder which is a complication of sepsis, major organ damage and loss of the mother’s blood due to severe infection, is the cause of death in Savita’s case. This is what seems to have happened and this is a sequence which cannot be reversed just by terminating the pregnancy.”

Pain and infection

Analysing the situation, Dr. Divakar said: “Based on available information, Savita would have reported pain and infection and doctors would have indicated a miscarriage as the 17-week foetus may not have grown as expected. Its growth would have been deteriorating because of the infection. Having understood that the baby was not going to make it, the couple would have asked for termination. But as Savita’s infection may have required aggressive treatment at that stage, doctors must have felt the need to prevent complications. The usual [practice] is to meddle the least till the mother is stable.”

Asserting that it is wise to wait in cases with such complications at 17 weeks, Dr. Divakar said: “As per reports, the baby’s heartbeat stopped after three days. But that was expected.”

At least 5,000 people have marched to the offices of Ireland's socially conservative prime minister to call for clearer guidelines on abortion following the death of a woman denied a termination.

It was the largest of a wave of protests across Ireland in recent days in response to the death of 31-year-old Indian woman Savita Halappanavar, who died of septicaemia following a miscarriage 17 weeks into her pregnancy.

Expressing anguish and sorrow over the death of a pregnant woman in an Irish hospital, the country's Catholic bishops said that pregnant women must receive all treatment to save their lives, even if it results in the unintended death of an unborn child.

The bishops' statement sought to clarify church teaching on the need for medical intervention to save the life of a mother. The bishops said they believe Ireland's medical guidelines contain adequate ethical provisions to allow medical staff to intervene as long as necessary steps have been taken to save both mother and unborn child.

The bishops insisted that the Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother.

"Whereas abortion is the direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby and is gravely immoral in all circumstances, this is different from medical treatments which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby," the bishops said in their statement.

People wonder why conservatives moan endlessly about what they label “the mainstream media”. One reason is that it often displays a subconscious prejudice against religion. Catholics, for example, are sometimes presented as misogynistic cultists with the blood of millions on their hands. To anyone who occasionally attends Mass, this can come off as rather insulting. Sorry, but we’re sensitive that way.

Take the tragic case of Savita Halappanavar, who died earlier this year in a hospital in Galway, Ireland. Here’s how The Guardian reported the story:

Ireland's near-total ban on abortion has come under renewed scrutiny amid an outcry over the death of a woman who was denied a termination. Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist, died of blood poisoning at Galway University hospital. She had turned up at the hospital a week earlier, but was denied a medical termination and, according to her husband, was told: ‘This is a Catholic country.’”

It was thus assumed that a) Savita did indeed request an abortion, b) an abortion would have saved her life and c) the hospital made a definitively Catholic decision to deny her the lifesaving procedure. Pro-choice protests erupted and Ireland’s politicians started talking about the need for reform. Savita became a martyr to Catholic cruelty. “I am ashamed that Ireland's medieval abortion law still stands,” wrote one Guardian commentator. And who wouldn’t be, if all they read was The Guardian?

But the story was a lot more complicated than it first appeared. The journalist who broke it later admitted that the facts were “rather muddled.” She now thinks that a termination might not have been requested and that Savita was only healthy “as far as we know” before going into hospital, implying that her condition might already have been fatal and that an abortion wouldn’t have saved her. It took an unsolicited letter from a consultant microbiologist to raise the possibility that Savita’s death was due to a “resistant bacteria strain” rather than “obstetric mishandling.” Also, few media outlets seemed aware that both Irish law and Catholic moral teaching would have permitted an abortion if it genuinely would have been “lifesaving.” And next to nobody noticed that Catholic Ireland – a land of “medieval” laws – actually has one of the lowest rates of death from childbirth in the world.

Here we go again...

The assault by the left on the right is much like the Islamic terrorists assault on the West, they may try and fail numerous times; however, only need to succeed once to make 'progress'...

No doubt --like vultures, they await the next opportunity...

The government appointed expert group were called to report on the European Court for Human Rights judgement in A,B and C versus Ireland, which states that legislation to regulate access to lawful termination of pregnancy in Ireland is “constitutionally, legally and procedurally sound”.
The government is now studying the reports recommendations.
The Bishops state that “of the four options presented by the Report, three involve abortion – the direct and intentional killing of an unborn child. This can never be morally justified. The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights does not oblige the Irish Government to legislate for abortion”.

Earlier this week an estimated 8 thousand people held a candle light vigil outside Parliament buildings calling on the government to uphold the right to life of the mother and unborn as enshrined in the nations’ constitution.

By virtue of their common humanity the life of a mother and her unborn baby are both sacred. They have an equal right to life. The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother. Where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical treatment which may put the life of her baby at risk, such treatments are morally permissible provided every effort has been made to save the life of both the mother and her baby.

Abortion, understood as the direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby, is gravely immoral in all circumstances. This is different from medical treatments which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby.

Current law and medical guidelines in Ireland allow nurses and doctors in Irish hospitals to apply this vital distinction in practice. This has been an important factor in ensuring that Irish hospitals are among the safest and best in the world in terms of medical care for both a mother and her unborn baby during pregnancy. As a country this is something we should cherish, promote and protect.

Ireland to legalize abortions

If the mother's life is in danger

The four Catholic Archbishops of Ireland: Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin; Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel & Emly; and Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, have issued a response to the decision on Tuesday by the Government to legislate for abortion.

In their statement, the Archbishops said the decision “should be of utmost concern for all.” They said that, if adopted, the government’s proposal will fundamentally change “the careful balance between the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child.”

Bishop John McAreavy spoke to Vatican Radio about the Archbishops' response. “The Bishops see this as a hugely significant change in Irish law, and see it as something which would weaken respect for life, and indeed endanger life and create a new culture in medical practice and medical care in relation to the unborn child in Ireland.”

Bishop McAreavy said “Ireland obviously is a country, with a very deep and proud Catholic tradition. The strength of that tradition today, particularly when it comes to the protection of the life of the unborn remains to be tested.”

In the present controversy, he said, “The Irish bishops and pro-life people in Ireland are committed to arguing their case forcefully and strongly and logically and respectfully. And I hope that as a result of this that it will have some effect.”

Don't underestimate the level of hatred of the Catholic Church now to be found there.

Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte has said he is a bit taken aback by the vigour of the language used by the bishops in a joint statement regarding legislating for abortion.

He was reacting to comments by Bishop of Kilmore Leo O'Reilly that the Government's decision to introduce legislation and regulations on the abortion issue is the "first step on the road to a culture of death"...

Asked what he thought about calls for TDs to have a free vote he said the Government had made it plain that the normal system, which had been in operation since 1922 will continue to apply.

He said he had no objection to the bishops having an input. However, he said he did not want to see them dictating to legislators.

(And it has absolutely nothing to do with Left/Right politics.)

Don't underestimate the level of hatred of the Catholic Church now to be found there.

I would be interested on why Ireland now hates Catholics .I was baptized by an Irish priest and received my first Holy Communion from one too.

Members of the Irish parliament must be given a "free vote" in any move to change the Republic's abortion laws, the Bishop of Dromore has said.

Dr John McAreavey made the remarks as Ireland's four Catholic Archbishops criticised the government on the issue.

The government intends to legislate for abortion in cases where a mother's life is at risk, including from suicide.

Dr McAreavey said the issue was "hugely significant" and should not come down to "purely party politics".

The Bishop of Dromore was speaking after the Irish prime minister and leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny, said members of his own party would not be offered a free vote on the issue.

The Government has been slightly taken aback by the level of rhetoric coming from the Catholic hierarchy on the abortion question.

Cardinal Brady upped the ante in his Christmas message by directly calling for a campaign of protest.

The cardinal chose to deliver a strong reminder of the church's position on abortion, urging those who believe in the "fundamental" right to life to lobby TDs.

He urged people to tell politicians that no government was entitled to remove that right from an innocent person.

Representing Irish bishops, Bishop of Elphin Christopher Jones told the Oireachtas Health Committee that terminating a pregnancy was never morally permissible.

The senior cleric said: “The Catholic church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of the mother, or the life of the mother to that of the child.”

“This coincides with our belief in the church, based on human reason, and affirmed by sacred scripture, that the life of a mother and her unborn baby are both sacred,” he said.

Speaking in the final day of hearings, Bishop Jones said other options were available to the government that did not involve legislating for abortion.

The draft report on the death of Savita Halappanavar has found an over-emphasis by medical staff on the welfare of the foetus, which was unviable, a solicitor for her widower Praveen has said.

Solicitor Gerard O'Donnell said the report found not enough emphasis had been put on Mrs Halappanavar's health.

Mr Halappanaver, who like his wife is a Hindu, has said that several times over a three-day period the family asked for the pregnancy to be terminated.

But, he said, this was refused because there was still a foetal heartbeat and they were told "this is a Catholic country."

Staff have denied that a "Catholic ethos" was responsible for the Indian dentist's treatment.

She died of septicaemia, or blood poisoning, and e-coli on 28 October 2012.

The jury in the inquest into a woman who died in hospital in Ireland four days after suffering a miscarriage has given a verdict of medical misadventure.

The inquest has heard the cause of death was septic shock and E coli.

The jury's verdict in the inquest was unanimous.