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Original poster

SAVITA HALAPPANAVAR 8 year anniversary ( trigger warning)

20 replies

PhoebeSnow · 28/10/2020 13:07

To remind posters that today is the 8th year Anniversary of the tragic death of 31 year old Savita Halappanavar , who died due to miss management of her septic pregnancy by irish doctors and nurses?
Rest In Peace Savita, you are not forgotten.My heart goes out to her husband and family who lost her in such a cruel and unnecessary way.

OP posts:
Shetoshe · 28/10/2020 13:46

Eight years? Wow that went fast. That poor woman. It's no consolation to her family I'm sure, but she has the legacy of being a hero for Irish women. The law would probably remain archaic and cruel if it wasn't for Savita.

stackemhigh · 28/10/2020 14:00

I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten the ins and outs of this. I will Google, but it may be worth summarising what happened OP?

100percentthatwitch · 28/10/2020 14:49

I think calling it mismanagement by the doctors is unfair OP, their hands were tied by the 8th amendment.

Plussizejumpsuit · 28/10/2020 14:51

This story really struck me at the time. This is tragic. Her poor family. Poor her.

northstars · 28/10/2020 14:53

This story was so heartbreaking.

northstars · 28/10/2020 14:57

@100percentthatwitch

I think calling it mismanagement by the doctors is unfair OP, their hands were tied by the 8th amendment.
I believe it was more than just the 8th amendment. The inquest ruled that her death was due to medical misadventure - sepsis was diagnosed too late, there were communication failures amongst the team and so on. Tragic on every level.
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 28/10/2020 15:01

I've never forgotten her.

Such a sad story, her husband seemed so dignified in his grief.

Should never have happened, an absolute disgrace.

Barmbraic · 28/10/2020 16:12

Rest in peace, Savita.

Original poster
PhoebeSnow · 28/10/2020 16:17

The doctors and midwives involved COULD have used their own judgment to save Savita’s life on the day, and dealt with the consequences later. Surely Do No Harm includes using common sense and compassion?
Frankly I think they were cowards, and guilty of medical negligence, and the fact that it didn’t even occur to a Dr Ashbury , one of the doctors present to consult with her colleagues about the legal position of any actions is disgraceful and negligent.
I recommend the book Savita : The Tragedy that Shook a Nation by Kitty Holland to read the full story.

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 28/10/2020 16:18

RIP

Original poster
PhoebeSnow · 28/10/2020 16:27

I feel strongly about this as it could have been any of us women on here.
This could have been me... I was pregnant with twins around the same time as Savita. Unfortunately I lost one foetus naturally, but not the other one which wasn’t viable so needed medical intervention or I could have ended up very ill or dead if the country I live in had had the same ridiculous law and mind set.
Look at what has just happened in Poland and tell me that what happened to Savita won’t happen again to another woman if we are not careful about the state of women’s rights all over the world.

OP posts:
Astella22 · 28/10/2020 16:35

@100percentthatwitch

I think calling it mismanagement by the doctors is unfair OP, their hands were tied by the 8th amendment.
That’s not correct, the medical staff failed to treat her sepsis with their judgement being clouded by the 8th but it wasn’t this that caused her death.

Thank you OP for the reminder. I wish things could of been different and she was here today. She has done so much for Ireland which I imagine is cold comfort to her family.
She will never be forgotten

Astella22 · 28/10/2020 16:36

Would love an edit button mumsnet
Quoted wrong post above

Member984815 · 28/10/2020 16:48

I'll never forget her , her memory was a driving force for repeal

Miri13 · 28/10/2020 18:02

Well thankfully the laws have changed in Ireland since. And hopefully with enough protests and action, things will also change in Poland.

Cadent · 28/10/2020 18:24

@Miri13 but isn't still difficult to get an abortion? The article I read said that many doctors at clinics refuse to perform them and those clinics that do perform them are plagued by anti-abortion groups hassling women entering clinics whilst holding child size coffins.

Member984815 · 29/10/2020 07:29

@cadent I know someone who had one recently and got it just fine . No protests just given the pills and the pack and had the process explained . Maybe it's different in other regions but nothing like that happened to her.

Lighthousekeeper27 · 29/10/2020 13:56

[quote Cadent]@Miri13 but isn't still difficult to get an abortion? The article I read said that many doctors at clinics refuse to perform them and those clinics that do perform them are plagued by anti-abortion groups hassling women entering clinics whilst holding child size coffins.[/quote]
There have been some protests, and they have gotten lots of media attention, but they aren't widespread.

SnuggyBuggy · 29/10/2020 14:03

I've had maternal sepsis myself and couldn't believe what happened to her. RIP.

peanut2017 · 29/10/2020 14:21

RIP ashamed to say that I didn't remember this and also didn't see anything in the Irish media on it which is sad. Such a tragedy

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