Parents of Dr Savita want abortion law in Ireland to be named after her

Team Udayavani, Dec 16, 2018, 7:35 PM IST

Belagavi:  The Ireland government recently gave its consent to formulate a law that allows abortion of foetus in extreme circumstances. The law is being brought about after several protests were stage following the death of Dr Savita Halappanavar, an Indian origin woman who was not allowed to abort her foetus even though it was the only way to save her life.

The law will come into existence following the presidential signature and parents of Dr Savita hope that the law is named after her. 

The decision was made by the following the aggressive fight for six years by the activists and various organizations.  In the ballot that was conducted to bring in this law, 64% people of Ireland voted in favor of the law.

Dr. Halappanavar, a dentist, and her husband, an engineer, were living in Galway in 2012 and preparing for the birth of their first child. That all changed when Savita went to the hospital with back pain on August 21, 2012, and doctors said  that her fetus would not survive and she could not be given an abortion, because they  live in a  Catholic country, and it would be illegal to terminate the pregnancy while the foetus still had a heartbeat.

Savita was 17 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital with back pain. She delivered a dead baby girl three days later and was rushed to intensive care within hours of the delivery. Savita died on August 28, 2012, of a heart attack caused by septicemia. Her death ignited debates on abortion laws in Ireland with people calling for a change. Praveen, husband of deceased Savita lived till 2015 in Ireland. Now he is settled in the USA. 

Andaneppa Yalagi, father of deceased Dr. Savita expressed that he is very thankful for the parliament of Ireland for making abortion lawful. Henceforth no parents will go through the pain we had been through.

He further added that his daughter’s name should be given for this bill and give peace to her departed soul.