Inquest Into The Death Of A Woman Denied An Abortion Begins

A full inquest into the death of a woman denied an abortion in an Irish hospital began Monday, marking the first time the medical staff who looked after Savita Halappanavar will give evidence under oath and in a public forum.

First, however, came the testimony of the Savita's husband, Praveen. 

According to The Irish Times, Praveen spoke for more than an hour, starting with how he met and married Savita and their subsequent move to Ireland so that he could work as an engineer with the medical manufacturer Boston Scientific. 

He then related, according to the paper, how he and his wife were so overcome with joy the first time they saw their baby via ultrasound they cried. 

By late October, however, Savita was experiencing severe back pain and, after using the bathroom, emerged in tears and told her husband that she felt "something hard coming out," though she tried to push it back in.

At the hospital, a midwife told the couple that Savita's cervix was dilated and that she would have a miscarriage - news that, Praveen said, crushed them both. 

Two days later, Savita's obstetrician told the couple that the fetus was "unfortunately" still alive, as shown by an ultrasound. At this point, the couple began asking repeatedly for the abortion they were denied based on the fact that, according to their doctor, they were in "Catholic country."

Her health quickly deteriorating, the fetal heartbeat stopped and Savita gave birth the very next day, after which she was moved to the hospital's high dependency unit where she died soon after.

In total, Galway's coroner Ciaran McLoughlin told the inquest that he has received a total of 67 statements and reports regarding the death, including 53 from hospital staff.