Irish abortion laws

[crumpet]

In all the publicity about the gay marriage referendum Aibu to wonder why there hasn't been mention of the abortion laws? Have I missed discussion on this?

Please could everyone defending the Irish abortion laws use Savita Halappanavar's name when they post. Let us treat her as a human being with a life of worth and value.

Maryz - women in civilised countries are not forced to "await events" (what a chilling phrase).

They can just have a D&C.

Ireland's Health Service Executive concluded confusion over the abortion law directly contributed to Savita Halappanavar's death.

The law was to blame because it was not clear, because the Irish government had failed to legislate after the X Case judgement, despite several judgements from Europe saying that they needed to.

The doctors were not misinformed about clear laws.

They were trying to negotiate contradictory laws in a 20 year legal limbo.

Again, please use Savita Halappanavar when attempting to defend the legal system that the HSE concluded contributed to her death.

Use Savita Halappanavar's name, I mean. Try not to dehumanise her when defending the system that contributed to her death.

Maryz - why can't you bring yourself to use Savita Halappanavar's name when you defend the legislation that contributed to her death?

Her husband reported that for three days she was in extreme pain and continually asked doctors to terminate the pregnancy. Staff refused, according to Praveen Halappanavar, on the grounds that they were prohibited from performing abortions by law & “this is a Catholic country.”

Ireland's abortion laws dehumanise women and contributed to Savita Halappanavar's death. Own it.

The law is absolutely clear.

The law at the time that Savita Halappanavar was killed was absolutely not clear.

There were several ECHR judgements against Ireland for its failure to provide clarity by legislating for the X Case decision.

When she died there was the 8th amendment giving Savita's foetus the same right to life as her, a 20 year old Supreme Court judgement that seemed to contradict that, that said that if a woman's life was in danger she had a right to an abortion in Ireland, and no legislation to clarify the matter. Despite several cases being taken.

Since her sad, needless death, and because of it, women's right to an abortion if their life is at risk has been clarified.

But it was not clear at the time, and the medical profession repeatedly asked for clarification about their legal position, and it was not given.

To claim that Irish law was clear on this matter is either woeful ignorance or dishonest posturing.

So the Irish law was not clear and further, it remains wrong. No one described the UK as 'Nirvana', but at least I know I can access legal, safe termination of a pregnancy. As a woman and a mother of daughters, that matters. As a human being, that matters. While women are forced to travel to the UK or risk unsafe illegal abortions, Ireland has no cause for self congratulation. Further sober reflection and reform would be more appropriate. Change is hard, but complacency will not save lives.

"Her husband reported that for three days she was in extreme pain and continually asked doctors to terminate the pregnancy. Staff refused, according to Praveen Halappanavar, on the grounds that they were prohibited from performing abortions by law & “this is a Catholic country.”"

Savita Halappanavar was admitted on the sunday and miscarried on the Wednesday. Her husband had asked about inducing miscarriage on the Tuesday when they found out that miscarriage was inevitable. From the report:

"O&G Consultant 1 stated that the patient and her husband were advised of Irish law in
relation to this. At interview the consultant stated “Under Irish law, if there’s no evidence of
risk to the life of the mother, our hands are tied so long as there’s a fetal heart”. The
consultant stated that if risk to the mother was to increase a termination would have been
possible, but that it would be based on actual risk and not a theoretical risk of infection."

When the signs of infection became apparent they would legally have been able to terminate. She should have been treated sooner.

She should have been treated as soon as she presented at the hospital in pain, not had Irish law explained to her.

She was treated. She was monitored, given pain medication, given antibiotics etc. It's not like they did nothing.

Just realised I used the word 'treated' in my previous post - just to clarify, she should have been induced sooner when her condition began to deteriorate.

I had my first child in Ireland, the stress of having an extremely high risk pregnancy knowing that my life would not take priority over the fetus if there was an emergency was quite frankly terrifying.

I have followed various awful cases in Ireland, the public maternity services are appalling in their treatment of women.

I moved back to Scotland and one of the reasons for that was the likelihood of a further pregnancy also being high risk.

It's not like they did nothing.

Just fucking wow.

I'm from belfast and I have lived here all my life. I am prolife. My beautiful daughter and I were provided with the upmost care during pregnancy and labour. My child's life was never valued more than mine at any point we were both treated equally.

As previous posters have stated it was medical negligence in general that killed this poor woman not the law, get your facts right everyone.

Northern Ireland may not agree with abortion but this does not mean they don't respect or value women. The law was set by the government (NOT DOCTORS) so hence the fact women are treated perfectly fine.

Fannyfifer you are quite the exaggerator. Really so you moved to Scotland in case you ever got pregnant again am ok then.

The hospitals would not have let you die to save your baby and you know it seriously

I said it was ONE OF THE REASONS.

Not exaggerating, the filth and substandard care I was subjected to in Dublin was a disgrace, I was very lucky everything ended up ok, no thanks to the medical staff.

I made official complaint & even wrote to the minister for health following it.

Oh & i had a second high risk pregnancy in Scotland so I know what appropriate effective maternity care is. I am also a nurse btw.