Savita Halappanavar's husband's detailed diary of days leading up to her death

Praveen releases his account of the events that lead to his wife’s death at a Galway hospital

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Praveen Halappanavar pictured with his wife Savita at their home in Galway

Photo by Asia Press

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The husband of Savita Halappanavar, the woman who tragically died in a Galway hospital after doctors refused to abort her miscarrying baby, has written an account for the Daily Mail of the days leading to his wife's death.

Praveen writes:

"FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19: ...When she became pregnant over the summer, we were over the moon. We are told the baby is 'absolutely fine' and given a due date of March 30.

"SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21: Savita wakes me at 8am complaining of back pain and cramps. I drive her to hospital where her blood pressure and heartbeat are checked and a urine sample is taken.

"She has by now lost a lot of fluids. She is frantic with worry but we are told everything is OK and sent home.

"... At home she goes to the toilet and emerges frightened. We rush back to hospital where the midwife carries out an internal examination....The staff tell me: 'She's miscarrying.' They explain that she has cervical dilation and the neck of the womb has opened. They say they can't save the baby...

"MONDAY, OCTOBER 22:  In the morning the consultant meets Savita. She suggests a scan be done. There is still a heartbeat and she says: 'The foetus is still alive.'

"Savita finds this unbearable and is in a flood of tears. She then asks for a termination. The consultant's response shocks me. 'It's a Catholic country,' she says. 'We won't be able to terminate if the baby is still alive.'

"Savita, a Hindu, is stunned, saying: 'But I'm not Catholic or Irish, so why are you imposing this law on me?'

"The consultant apologizes but stands firm. My wife is nothing if not determined and keeps pleading, saying: 'If you can't save the baby, why can't you just terminate? There is no way to go back now.' The consultant eventually leaves saying she will come back later."

"TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23: ...The consultant returns to check on Savita and does a heartbeat check of the baby. Savita finds this torturous and keeps crying out: 'What's the point of hanging on?'

"We then make our second request for a termination.

"The consultant says: 'The foetus is still alive, we can't do anything.'

"....(Savita) will not give up on her request for a termination. The midwife says she will check again with the consultant but later reports back saying: 'We can't do anything, it's a Catholic thing.'

"WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24: ... I can see her condition has deteriorated; she is very weak and her breathing does not seem right to me.

"In the middle of the night Savita starts vomiting violently. Every time she takes a sip of water, she throws up. During the next few hours she gets worse. By the morning I realise how bad things are....

"...It occurs to me then that up until that point their priority has been the foetus, not Savita. That morning they move Savita to another room, closer to their work station so they can keep a close eye on her.

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