INQUIRIES INTO DEATH OF WOMAN ALLEGEDLY REFUSED A TERMINATION AT UHG

Date Published: 14-Nov-2012

The Government is again being urged to legislate for the X-Case – after it emerged a woman in Galway died from septicaemia after suffering a miscarriage.

Inquiries are underway into the death of 31 year old Savita Halappanavar – who, the Irish Times reports, was allegedly told by hospital staff at UHG that a termination couldn’t be carried out while a foetal heartbeat was still present.

On October 21st, Savita Halappanavar – who was 17 weeks pregnant – went to University Hospital Galway in severe pain.

She was told she was miscarrying her baby – and in the following days, her family say she requested a termination but was told by staff at the facility that it could not be performed as long as there was still a foetal heartbeat.

When the heartbeat stopped, Savita underwent the procedure and was brought to intensive care, but died from septicaemia on October 28th.

Both the HSE and University Hospital Galway have launched inquiries into the case – and the hospital has also extended its sympathy to Savita’s family.