Couple 'told abortion not allowed'

The widower of an Indian dentist who died in hospital in Ireland after suffering a miscarriage has said a consultant told the couple an abortion was not allowed because "this is a Catholic country".

Savita Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when admitted to University Hospital Galway on October 21 last year and died a week later from suspected septicaemia, days after she lost her baby.

The 31-year-old's widower, Praveen, told an inquest that consultant Katherine Astbury twice dismissed requests for a termination and told the couple it was because the foetus was alive.

Mr Halappanavar said that on Tuesday October 23 last year, his wife requested a termination for a second time.

"Dr Astbury came in," he said. "Savita asked her, can you terminate the baby?'

"She said 'unfortunately I cannot. This is a Catholic country, we are bound by the law. We cannot terminate the foetus when it's still alive'."

Mr Halappanavar said his wife cried and told the doctor she was Hindu and not an Irish citizen. "Dr Astbury said 'sorry'," Mr Halappanavar added.

The widower told the inquest his wife was in a great deal of pain, distressed and in shock after being told the previous day that the foetus was still alive.

The inquest at the courthouse in Galway city is scheduled to last at least one week.

Medics involved in treating Mrs Halappanavar will be called to give evidence along with experts including former master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr Peter Boylan.