Several weeks after the unfortunate death of Savita Halappannavar in Ireland, the Irish government announced on December 18, 2012, that it will legalese abortions when a mother’s life is at risk. The 31-year-old dentist had died after she was refused an abortion in the European country.
After the death of Savita, a huge public outcry was caused, which forced the government to make amendments to its laws. The dentist died on October 28, 2012, at Galway University Hospital and was 17 weeks into her pregnancy.
Savita’s husband said that they had repeatedly asked for a termination of the pregnancy, but were constantly refused and were told that the foetal heartbeat was still present. They were also told that since it was a catholic country abortions were not permitted. The Irish government has now repelled legislation which makes abortions a criminal act and has introduced regulations for doctors who can perform an abortion when a woman’s life is regarded as being at risk.
Dr. James Reilly, the Irish health minister said that the government was aware of the controversy surrounding abortions. The abortion laws in Ireland are known to be the strictest in Europe and any proposed legislation to decriminalize abortions can boost furious debate in the country. The Irish government, for two decades, have resisted passing laws that state that abortion should be legalized.
