The All India Democratic Women’s Association has said that it was dismayed by the refusal of the University Hospital in Galaway, Ireland, to conduct an abortion on 31-year-old Savita Halappanavar, a dentist from India, leading to her death due to septicaemia on November 11.
AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman said: “Savita had developed severe back pain in her 17 week of pregnancy and suspecting a miscarriage, sought medical termination of the foetus to save her life. Despite her repeated pleas that she was a Hindu, her request was turned down on the grounds that abortion was illegal in Catholic Ireland.” Stating that it was inexcusable that a life had been lost by the implementation of a grossly unjust and unfair law which denied abortion even when the woman’s life was in imminent danger, Ms. Sundararaman added: “This is in violation of both Indian and international laws. It is sad that despite her condition, the necessary medical attention was denied.” AIDWA has urged the Centre to strongly protest the manner in which Dr. Savita was treated by the medical authorities in Ireland
