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THERE HAVE BEEN renewed calls for the government to legislate for the X Case following the death of a 31-year-old woman who was denied an abortion at University Hospital Galway.
A candlelit vigil is to be held in Eyre Square in Galway for Savita Halappanavar, who died two and a half weeks ago after developing septicaemia from a miscarriage which lasted more than two days. A protest calling for legislation for abortion when a woman’s life is in danger will be held outside the Dáil this evening.
Savita Halappanavar had originally presented to the hospital on 21 October complaining of severe back pain. She was found to be undergoing a miscarriage; however, the foetus remained inside her body and a foetal heartbeat was detected. Her husband, Praveen, told the Irish Times that as Savita became ill and her condition deteriorated over the following days, she repeatedly asked for the foetus to be removed.
However, the foetus was not removed until 24 October – almost three days from when Savita was first admitted to the hospital – after the foetal heartbeat had stopped.
Immediately afterwards Savita was brought to a high dependency unit in the hospital suffering from septicaemia. She died four days later on Sunday 28 October.
Under the 1992 X Case ruling, the Supreme Court found that abortion is permitted in Ireland under the Constitution in circumstances where there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. However no government has yet introduced legislation to enact the ruling, creating a grey area for medical practitioners.
A committee appointed to examine how Ireland should respond to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on the country’s abortion law is expected to produce a report shortly, after a delay of more than four months.
A number of groups advocating for abortion legislation have said Savita’s death increases the pressure on the current government to introduce laws based on the Supreme Court ruling.
“This is not an issue about TDs’ views on abortion, it is simply an issue of giving effect to existing constitutional rights and respecting the result of two referenda in which the Irish people rejected rolling back on the X Case,” said Sinead Ahern of Choice Ireland.
Action on X and Galway Pro-Choice, which both advocate for abortion legislation, called on the government to immediately introduce legislation to end the uncertainty around current practices.
“This was an obstetric emergency which should have been dealt with in a routine manner,” said Rachel Donnelly of Galway Pro-Choice. “Yet Irish doctors are restrained from making obvious medical decisions by a fear of potentially severe consequences”.
A candlelit vigil for Savita is to take place at Browne’s Doorway on Eyre Square in Galway at 5pm on Saturday organised by Galway Pro-Choice.
A spokesperson for University Hospital in Galway was not immediately available to comment on the case.
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Very sad. I’ve often visited this Camphill community centre and it was a beautiful place for residents to live with land, animals, gardens and buildings. Lots of young Europeans volunteering years of their lives to provide an alternative option for living to people who would otherwise spend their lives in dull institutions having their senses dulled by chemical restraint.
Don’t think transferring it to the HSE will make it any better, with their record on mental health facilities .
I too have visited Camphill Ballytobin, and was really impressed by the interaction between staff and residents. What better way to live for people with disabilities, than being to assist in food production and crafting, and being at one with nature, while being allowed to progress at their own pace. Far better than being locked up in an institution. Let’s hope this isn’t another bureaucratic exercise by Hiqua! The HSE’s past record in looking after those with disabilities, leaves a lot to be desired.
The Camphill model was such a nice one. This is very sad to read indeed.
Hopefully these services can be brought up to an appropriate standard and continue to operate . We need to protect the most vulnerable as are many of the people attending these services .
Staff and managers running these services have a responsibility too plus resources from Government and HSE let’s hope it’s a move for better in relation to the lives of the people using the service.
I just cannot trust this government or the welfare of the disadvantaged it’s responsible for.
Budgets come before welfare. They seem to be able to find reasons to, in this case, stop a well run, people orientated, facility for the disabled, and hand it over to the HSE, an organisation that’s nothing else but a gravy train for the execs and managers.
Only time will tell.
Does anyone know why volunteers are no longer allowed because HSE are taking over? I can’t understand why HIQA keep handing over these centres to the HSE when there is a clear record of HSE running such places into the ground, feel so distressed reading this.
have your say