An Indian family in Ireland is outraged after a pregnant woman died when a hospital refused to perform an abortion on her.

Savita Halappanavar died in a Galway hospital on 28/October/2012, following repeated requests to terminate her 17-week pregnancy, citing severe back pains and the likelihood of miscarriage.

The Irish Times reported that Savita, a 31-year-old dentist, died from septicaemia (the existence of pathogenic organisms in the bloodstream).

.BBC reported that the hospital rejected the abortion request due to the existence of a fetal heartbeat.

Savita’s husband, Praveen Halappanavar, 34, told BBC his wife would still be alive had the abortion been carried out.

Ireland is one of the few remaining European Union members where abortions are almost impossible to get. Moreover, the laws in Ireland do not specify under what circumstances abortions can be carried out – although current guidelines indicate termination is proper if the mother’s life is at risk.

Thousands of protesters came out on Wednesday(14/Nov/2012) outside Ireland’s parliament to demand easing of tough abortion rules after pregnant Indian woman Savita died after being repeatedly denied abortion in an Irish hospital.