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"   It&amp;#039;s the tragic story which has shocked women around the world and hit the headlines, sparking huge debate on Twitter and in political circles. Savita Halappanavar, 31, was 17 weeks pregnant when she went to Galway University Hospital with back pain on 21 October. Sadly, doctors discovered she was having a miscarriage but rather than being allowed to terminate her pregnancy prematurely, she was forced to suffer the next two days in intense pain waiting for her baby&amp;#039;s heartbeat to stop naturally. Why? Because in the Republic of Ireland, abortion is still illegal. GET CLUED UP ON CONTRACEPTION But after Savita&amp;#039;s foetal heartbeat stopped, her own health deteriorated and she was rushed into intensive care, where tragically she died of septicaemia on 28 October. Her death sparked public outcry and pro-choice demonstrations and candlelight vigils have been held across both Ireland and the UK. If Savita had been almost anywhere else in Europe (except Ireland, Malta or the Vatican City where abortion is still illegal), her family feel certain she would have survived. There are three investigations into her death but the Irish Government is now facing pressure to reform their abortion laws. Currently, it&amp;#039;s only permitted if there is a &amp;#039;real and substantial risk&amp;#039; to the mother&amp;#039;s life. As a result, in the last year alone 4,149 women in Ireland came to England or Wales for an NHS abortion. PROTECT YOUR CONTRACEPTION CHOICES Here at Cosmo, we believe women have the right to choose and if this tragedy has shown us anything, it&amp;#039;s that more has to be done to combat issues surrounding archaic laws in countries so close to home. It&amp;#039;s 2012, not 1912 and women should have the freedom to control their body, their future and their lives. What do you think? Post your comments below or tweet us @CosmopolitanUK "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/more/a17999/abortion-scandal-in-ireland-death-of-Savita-Halappanavar/>