It is tragic that Savita Halappanavar had to die to bring about a change in Irish abortion laws. But it is a sign of that nation’s maturity of thinking that the ruling party can take up dispassionately the right of a person to undergo an abortion if her life is at stake.
Not swayed by the potential of the changes in legislation to further divide a Catholic nation, the Irish government is set to legislate for abortion in special circumstances, including suicide, in a tight time frame with the Fine Gael, the senior partner in the governing alliance, to issue a whip to its MPs.
Of course, the four Catholic archbishops are severely critical of the move and are asking for a free vote, although the fact is abortion is already currently legal where a substantial risk to the mother’s life is perceived. Peculiarly, such an argument does not take into consideration the question of tending to a mother’s health and an abortion can’t be carried out just to protect health as opposed to saving a mother’s life.
What happened in Ireland might just open the eyes of those parts of the world where abortions are still illegal. We live in an age of greater enlightenment in which a pro-choice argument upholds the right of an individual to take her own decision. Savita’s parents strike a sentimental note in asking for the naming of the amended abortion law after their daughter. As for those who have suffered the most from a religious issue that had nothing to do with them, they have a right to seek some solace from a terrible tragedy.