sheridan walkies: India to take up Savita case with Ireland

Saturday, November 17, 2012

India to take up Savita case with Ireland

New Delhi, Nov 16 (IBNS)

India will take up the case of Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied an abortion at a hospital, with the government of Ireland.

According to reports, India's ambassador to Ireland, Debashish Chakravarti, will take the issue up with Irish authorities.

Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar came on October 21 with back pain to Galway University Hospital where she was found to be miscarrying at 17 weeks.

Her husband, Praveen Halappanavar, an engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway, said she had asked several times over a three-day period that the pregnancy be terminated. This was refused, he says, because the foetal heartbeat was still present and they were told: "This is a Catholic country".

The dead foetus was later removed and Savita was taken to the high dependency unit and then the intensive care unit, where she died of septicaemia on October 28.

Savita's death sparked an international outrage.

"We deeply regret the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. The death of an Indian national in such circumstances is a matter of concern," an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said.

"We understand that the Irish authorities have initiated two inquiries (and) we are awaiting the results of these inquiries and we will take it from there," he said.

--IBNS

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