Ireland Abortion Laws Changing After Death of Woman Refused Abortion

Ireland is poised to amend its notoriously restrictive abortion laws in the wake of protests after the death of a woman denied an abortion during a complicated miscarriage.

Savita Halappanavar, 31, died in October after an agonizing three-day ordeal in an Irish hospital. The Indian woman arrived at the hospital with severe back pain. Doctors told her she was having a miscarriage, but refused to hasten the process with an abortion, reportedly saying, "This is a Catholic country."

Despite protests from both Halappanavar and her husband Praveen, doctors said they needed to wait until the fetus' heartbeat stopped, a process that dragged out for three days.

By that time, Halappanavar, weakened from agony and constant vomiting, was near death, as bacteria from the dying fetus had entered her bloodstream, causing septicemia. She died three days later in the intensive care unit.

Irish law allows for abortions only when the life of the mother is threatened, yet doctors still refused to perform the procedure because of the legal fog surrounding the restrictions.

If a later inquiry determined that the doctors had performed an abortion that hadn't been absolutely necessary to save Halappanavar's life, they could have been subject to criminal prosecution.

Some legislators in the Irish cabinet are hoping to clear up the laws.

After weeks of protest, they plan to repeal the laws criminalizing abortion and clarify the rules determining when an abortion can be performed, which will likely only cover instances where the life of the mother is in danger, including when she is suicidal.

There are likely to be no exceptions for rape or incest.

I know that most people have personal views on this matter," said Irish Health Minister James Reilly. "However, the government is committed to ensuring that the safety of pregnant women in Ireland is maintained and strengthened. We must fulfill our duty of care towards them."

"For that purpose, we will clarify in legislation and regulation what is available by way of treatment to a woman when a pregnancy gives rise to a threat to a woman's life. We will also clarify what is legal for the professionals who must provide that care while at all times taking full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child," he said.

Ireland has the strictest abortion laws in the European Union, effectively banning the procedure-a rarity among developed countries.

But public opinion in the predominantly Catholic country is shifting, as faith in the church wanes following sex abuse scandals and now Halappanavar's death.