In Wake of Pregnant Indian Woman's Death Ireland to Decide on Abortion Laws by Year-end

The Republic of Ireland's Government will decide on country's abortion laws by the end of the year. The recent death of Indian dentist Savital Halappanavar in a Galway hospital grabbed attention on the lack of clarity about when doctors in the country can terminate a pregnancy.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg criticized the situation.

In response, the Irish Government has set up an expert panel to look at the issue.

On Tuesday, the government published its report that favours legislation and regulation as the best options to follow, the BBC reports.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly said the Fine Gael Labour coalition government would make its decision on what to do by the end of the year.

The legislation option has been strongly criticised by the British-based Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, and called for widespread resistance to the proposal.

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Halappanaver, 31, had died on 28 October died after suffering a miscarriage in University Hospital, Galway. Her widower, Praveen, claimed she was denied an abortion.

The Irish Republic's health service is conducting an inquiry, which is now described as a clinical review, it added.

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Source-ANI