How The Tragic Death Of A Woman Denied An Abortion In Ireland Could Become The Norm In America

[Omaha Steve]

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/11/14/1187721/tragic-death-ireland-denied-abortion/

By Tara Culp-Ressler on Nov 14, 2012 at 10:30 am

Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian woman living in Ireland, went to the hospital when she first began to miscarry — but thanks to Ireland’s stringent abortion ban, medical professionals denied her repeated requests to quickly terminate the pregnancy because they could still detect a fetal heartbeat. The Irish hospital required her to extend her miscarriage over three days until the fetus’ heartbeat officially stopped, and by that time, Halappanavar had developed serious blood poisoning. She passed away just a few days later.



Halappanavar’s death helps highlight the tragic effect of Ireland’s stringent abortion ban, but the impact of that type of restrictive legislation isn’t just limited to that country. In fact, lawmakers in Ohio are quietly pushing extreme anti-abortion legislation that would subject the women in that state to a situation incredibly similar to the one in Ireland.

During this year’s lame duck session, Ohio legislators are planning to revive HB 125, a so-called “heartbeat” bill that would ban abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected — which can first occur as early as five or six weeks, before many women may even know they’re pregnant. The proposed legislation represents the most restrictive abortion ban in the United States. If HB 125 is passed, it would criminalize all abortions after the emergence of a fetal heartbeat without allowing even the narrowest exceptions in potential cases of rape, incest, or the mental health of the woman.

FULL story at link.

[PDJane]

1. This does happen in the US. It has happened in the US, and recently.

This is medical malpractice; it shouldn't have happened. Heartbeat or no heartbeat, the child had no chance and was not viable. The life of the mother should be the absolute priority; she is the living one, the one with a husband and a family and friends who will miss her.

This is what banning abortions leads to, and it's insanity.

[SDjack]

5. This happens in the US, but only to the poor and powerless. Different enforcement

for rich folks. I don't believe that we will ever read about a rich American father or husband tolerating that.

[PDJane]

6. That depends.

I suggest you read this, from Dr. Jenn Gunther. Laws are laws, and they tend to be enforced.

http://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/when-a-politician-decides-if-the-life-of-the-mother-is-at-risk/

[cali]

2. Ohio's proposed legislation is clearly unconstitutional.

[athena]

3. This is what the so-called pro-life movement wants.

There is no way to put it gently: anybody who is "pro-life" is pro-death of women like poor Savita Halappanavar.

That poor woman, and her poor husband. I have no words.

[HockeyMom]

4. Republican Platform say NO Exception AT ALL

Life of the Woman, even if the fetus has no chance of survival. "God's Will" that they BOTH die. She is just an incubator.

[Initech]

7. The pro lifers just do not care about life. They are anti woman. Period. End of debate.

Any of these fucking worthless scumbags like Todd Akin or Richard Mourdock who say this is "God's will" - fuck them all. And fuck the Catholic church who encourages this behavior.

[arikara]

9. That's because they aren't "pro-life"

that's just the moniker they chose to whitewash their misogyny. They don't give a shit about life after its out of the womb which proves that its nothing more than an issue they can use to control women. I used to call them anti-abortionists but now I think "rape guys" is most appropriate.

[Initech]

11. "Rape guys" - that's a good one.

I'm a guy and I've long despised pro lifers. And especially the Catholic church- they were way out of line and totally overstepped their boundaries last year on the birth control issue. They are obsessed with fetuses but once they're actually born they don't give a shit. George Carlin was right - "If you're pre born you're fine. If you're pre school you're fucked!!!"

[calico1]

8. It was the norm prior to Roe v. Wade n/t

[ck4829]

10. Pro-life is pro-expendable woman