Savita Halappanavar died as a direct result of Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws and not simply because she contracted sepsis, the author of the independent report into her death has said.
Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran made the comment as he said the eighth amendment is “not working” and declared his “surprise” it has taken five years since Savita’s death for a discussion on its removal to take place.
Speaking during a meeting of the cross-party Oireachtas committee on the future of the eighth amendment which also heard former master of Holles Street Hospital Dr Peter Boylan call for the immediate repeal of existing laws and warn politicians will face “groundhog day” if they fail to do so, Prof Arulkumaran said the reality is Savita died because of Ireland’s abortion laws.
Asked specifically by Independent senator Lynn Ruane “if the presence of the eighth amendment cost Savita her life”, Prof Arulkumaran - who authored the report into her death - said: "It was very clear the things holding the hands of physicians was the legal issue. Anybody, any junior doctor, would have said this is a sepsis condition, we must terminate.
"She did have sepsis. However, if she had a termination in the first days as requested, she would not have had sepsis. If she had the termination when asked for it, the sepsis would not arise.
"We would never have heard of her and she would be alive today," he said.
She died as a direct result of medical negligence. You can report as much subjective opinion pieces as you want from the pro-abortion sude but it doesn’t detract from the fact that medical negligence was the reason for her death.
Incorrect. The legislation allowed for Savita’s life to be saved. Medical negligence failed to diagnose her condition and your hero Peter Boylan conceded as much in his report.
I’m clutching to reality. You are placing all your eggs in a basket of lies. Savita died from medical negligence. Dr Boylan would prefer that abortions happen so doctors have less accountability which is what the pro-abortion lot are all about, abdication of responsibility and accountability.
If you can’t handle the consequences (pregnancy) of the action (sex). Don’t do it. If you do it, own up to the the responsibilities brought about by your irresponsible behaviour.
Debate on Clare Byrne live here now. The no side are beating them hands down IMO. Brid Smith let herself down badly from the audience accusing a panelist from the no side for being a liar.