Would an abortion have saved Savita Halappanavar? | 57 comments (57 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Concern Troll (4.00 / 2)

You are right about the screeching crowd over there, and I appreciate your raising arguments in advance, before the foetus firsters do so. Your argument hinges on the risk of an infection by the abortion, though. Even if I concede for argument's sake that this might be true for an operation, there is still prostaglandine. Where is the heightened infection risk for that? Your scenario is really far-fetched and makes me wonder if you aren't wrong too when you say this is not the best moment for a campaign to alter the law.

by Katrin on Thu Nov 22nd, 2012 at 08:41:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Concern Troll (none / 1)

I said in the diary that:

European Tribune - Would an abortion have saved Savita Halappanavar?

It might also have been possible to accelerate the process by inducing an earlier delivery.

I don't know if this was considered, and if so why that option was rejected. Presumably her medical records will shed some light on this. Given that miscarriage is basically premature childbirth triggered if there is some malfunction - I'm not sure if it is known precisely why or how - but which is a naturally occurring end to many pregnancies, perhaps the medical team felt - at the time - there was no need to accelerate the process, or that it was proceeding normally and naturally and with no excessive risk to the mother.

I share your view that this is a somewhat far fetched scenario given that, reportedly, her membrane had ruptured, and that this posed a significant risk of infection. I do know that many successful child-births can take a long time and that induction is often used to accelerate the process, so the suspicion has to be that this was not done here because it was known the foetus was unviable and so that an induction at that time could be construed as an abortion.

However the Catholic Church has often used the somewhat Jesuitical distinction between a treatment intended directly to abort a foetus, and a treatment required by the mother and which has the "side-effect" of aborting the foetus, and so it seems to me the medical team where not "theologically" precluded from pursuing this option. However the failure of the Irish Parliament to legislate to provide greater clarity as to what is and is not legally allowed under the current Constitution may have contributed to uncertainty and procrastination on their part.

Presumably the inquiry team will question them precisely on this point.

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by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Thu Nov 22nd, 2012 at 09:15:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Concern Troll (4.00 / 2)

I share your view that this is a somewhat far fetched scenario given that, reportedly, her membrane had ruptured, and that this posed a significant risk of infection. I do know that many successful child-births can take a long time and that induction is often used to accelerate the process, so the suspicion has to be that this was not done here because it was known the foetus was unviable and so that an induction at that time could be construed as an abortion.

Well, I know wikipedia is not an authoritative source and all that, but...

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a condition that occurs in pregnancy when there is rupture of the membranes (rupture of the amniotic sac and chorion) more than an hour before the onset of labor. PROM is prolonged when it occurs more than 18 hours before labor. PROM is preterm (PPROM) when it occurs before 37 weeks gestation. Risk factors for PROM can be a bacterial infection, smoking, or anatomic defect in the structure of the amniotic sac, uterus, or cervix. In some cases, the rupture can spontaneously heal, but in most cases of PROM, labor begins within 48 hours. When this occurs, it is necessary that the mother receives treatment to avoid possible infection in the newborn.
...
Maternal _risk factors for a premature rupture of membranes include chorioamnionitis or sepsis. ...
...
... Current obstetrical management includes an induction of labor at approximately 12 hours if it has not already begun though many physicians believe it to be safe to induce labor immediately, and consideration of Group B Streptococcal prophylaxis at 18 hours.
...
Infection

Maternal: If chorioamnionitis [inflammation of the amniotic sac] is present at the time of PPROM, antibiotic therapy is usually given to avoid sepsis, and delivery is indicated. If chorioamnionitis is not present, prompt antibiotic therapy can significantly delay delivery, giving the fetus crucial additional time to mature. In preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), antibiotic therapy should be given to decrease the risk of sepsis. Ampicillin or erythromycin should be administered for 7 days

Fetal: If the GBS status of the mother is not known, Penicillin or other antibiotics may be administered for prophylaxis against vertical transmission of Group B streptococcal infection.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Nov 22nd, 2012 at 09:47:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Would an abortion have saved Savita Halappanavar? | 57 comments (57 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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