Just a few months after Irish doctors reaffirmed Ireland's abortion ban by determining that in zero cases an abortion would be medically necessary to save the life of the mother, 31-year-old Hindu dentist Savita Halappanavar died tragically after miscarrying 17 weeks into her pregnancy when doctors refused to abort the fetus. She spent three days in agonizing pain, asking for the abortion that could save her life, but each time the doctors refused, telling her, "Sorry, this is a Catholic country." Savita was not Catholic.
There was nothing her doctors could've done to save the fetus. But an abortion would have saved her life.
For further reading, check out this article by Jessica Valenti, this article on Jezebel, this article from BBC News, and this article by the Irish Independent. For a complete guide to Ireland's history with abortion law, read this article from The Guardian.
This video is not supported by your device. Continue browsing to find other stuff you'll love!