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Abortion refusal death: Hindu woman told Ireland 'is a Catholic country' Abortion refusal death: Hindu woman told Ireland 'is a Catholic country'
(about 4 hours later)
The husband of an Indian woman who died after being denied an abortion in an Irish hospital have told an inquest the couple pleaded that they were Hindus and therefore not morally opposed to a termination. The husband of an Indian woman who died after being denied an abortion at an Irish hospital broke down in tears on Monday as he described how they pleaded that as Hindus they were not morally opposed to a termination that could have saved her life.
Praveen Halappanavar repeated his claim that a doctor, named at the inquest in Galway as Dr Katherine Astbury, told him an abortion could not be performed because "this is a Catholic country". Praveen Halappanavar repeated his claim that a doctor, named at the inquest in Galway as Dr Katherine Astbury, told him that a termination could not be performed because "this is a Catholic country".
The widower of Savita Halappanavar said his wife replied that she was a Hindu and not an Irish citizen and asked why the law was being imposed on a Hindu. His 31-year-old wife, Savita, died at University College hospital in Galway on 28 October last year, eight days after being admitted. She had been 17 weeks pregnant. Her case has become the focus of international debate and protests over Ireland's strict laws on abortion.
The inquest at Galway court heard that when Savita Halappanavar attended Galway University hospital on 21 October, doctors found her cervix was open and she was told the baby would not survive. Halappanavar told the inquest that he and his wife had been sent home from the hospital on Sunday 21 October, but returned a couple of hours later because she was in severe pain. He was later told that his wife was miscarrying.
Praveen Halappanavar said his wife was moved to a room on her own and she started crying and said sorry. He told her it would be OK, it was God's will and "we can have more babies later". "Savita was crying loudly," Halappanavar told the court. He said a doctor told him: "'You have to be brave' – he said the baby won't arrive. Both of us were shattered – we didn't know what to do."
Later in her hospital bed, his wife was shivering. He said staff checked the heater and said it was not on. The following Tuesday when they returned to the hospital, Halappanavar said, they both asked the medical team to perform a termination. In total the couple made three requests for an emergency termination, he said.
Praveen Halappanavar told the inquest his wife found Ireland peaceful and loved the country. He said he came to work in Ireland in 2006 as an engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway. "Savita asked for a termination two times. Savita was in tears. She said she could not take it. The doctor did not come back that day," Halappanavar said. "Savita asked a doctor when she could plan the next pregnancy. She was told she had to get well first. She wanted a termination; she wanted it before her parents arrived back in India and started telling people she was pregnant."
He also told the inquest that his wife asked for a termination when it was confirmed that there was a foetal heartbeat present after an ultrasound scan on 23 October. This request was turned down by the medical team, he said. Halapannavar said his wife then asked Astbury on the Tuesday for the termination. He claimed that the couple were told: "This is a Catholic country – we cannot terminate because the foetus is still alive."
Earlier Dr Helen Howley, the family's GP, told the inquest that at her 12-week review Savita Halappanavar was very healthy and full of the joy of pregnancy. He said his wife then told the doctor that she was a Hindu and not an Irish citizen.
Swearing in the jury, the coroner, Dr Ciaran McLoughlin, said he was obliged to have a jury as the inquest wanted to prevent similar events occurring. He said 67 statements had been given but not all witnesses would be called. Declan Buckley, the senior barrister for the hospital and for the Republic's Health Service Executive, said there were differences between what Halappanavar said happened and the hospital's account.
The primary role of the inquest is to determine key facts concerning the death of Savita Halappanavar on 28 October after a miscarriage. Halappanavar claimed to the inquest that retrospective entries had been made in the medical notes.
Her death became the focus of international protests against Ireland's near-total ban on abortions. The inquest has been told that the evidence of Astbury, a consultant obstetrician, will say there was only one discussion about a termination, on Tuesday 23 October.
The tragedy has also precipitated moves by the Irish government to amend the country's abortion laws and make some terminations legal but only in cases where a mother's life is at risk. Astbury says a termination was not warranted at that time as there was no threat to Mrs Halappanavar's life.
The inquest, chaired by Dr Ciaran McLoughlin, continues.
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