Nightly News   |  November 14, 2012

Irish women protest death linked to miscarriage

Hundreds of women in Ireland are protesting, calling for legislative change after the death of Savita Halappanavar, who died after her requests for an abortion were rejected by her Irish doctors. NBC’s Jim Maceda reports.

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>>> the death of a pregnant woman has prompted some real soul-searching tonight in ireland . ireland has almost completely outlawed abortions. but the death of an indian woman who had lived there for several years have a lot of people saying it is time for change , and the volume there is getting louder. our report from nbc's jim maceda.

>> reporter: tonight, anger and tears in the streets of dublin, as there were protests. this woman from india, recently seen here, marking a hindu festival and expecting their first child. she was 17 weeks pregnant in late october, when she came to the hospital here complaining of severe pain. when doctors told her she would miscarry her child, they pled for an abortion, but refused because the fetus still had a heartbeat, this is a catholic country , they were told. in fact, ireland is less of a catholic country . days later, she died. she described their last desperate moments.

>> they were trying to pump her heart, the doctor just told me we lost her.

>> reporter: her death has started up a heated debate on abortion in ireland where decades of confusing laws say abortion is illegal, unless the mother's life is in danger. but the issue government never offered guidance on the specific risks that leave a life in danger, leaving doctors afraid to perform such surgeries.

>> we have lived with this for 30 years, do something about it.

>> reporter: but despite more government promises, many irish tonight are asking how many more women will die before ireland 's abortion laws are changed. jim maceda, london.