[3][6][7] On 21 October 2012, Halappanavar, then 17 weeks pregnant, was examined at University Hospital Galway after complaining of back pain, but was soon discharged without a diagnosis.

She returned to the hospital later that day, this time complaining of lower pressure, a sensation she described as feeling "something coming down", and a subsequent examination found that the gestational sac was protruding from her cervix.

She was admitted to hospital, as it was determined that miscarriage was unavoidable, and several hours later, just after midnight on 22 October, her water broke but did not expel the fetus.

On 3 November 2012, friends and family of the Halappanavars contacted local abortion rights groups (Galway Pro-Choice) to find out what they could do, with dozens meeting in person on the 6th.

[23] The evening before the news story broke, the government's expert committee on abortion had handed in its report on the A, B and C v Ireland judgement to the Department of Health.

[22] There were also calls for a change in the law, as the legislation in effect at the time was an Act of the British Parliament of 1861 – when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom – which declared that it was unlawful to "procure a miscarriage".

[30] Medical terminations had previously been performed at the University Hospital when complications arose in pregnancy, as it is permitted by Irish law to save the life of the woman.

On Monday 19 November, the Roman Catholic bishops of Ireland met in response to Halappanavar's death and released a statement that the Catholic Church believes in the "equal and inalienable right to life of a mother and her unborn child" and that the Church has never taught that the life of an unborn child takes precedence over the mother.

[32] Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, a prominent obstetrics and gynaecology physician, said that current standards of care were legally unclear, saying, "We really do need legislation in this area, otherwise we're going to be at risk of doctors working outside the law, and that's not appropriate.

"[36] Microbiologist James Clair stated in a letter to the IrishExaminer that the "main problem is being missed" in the case, suggesting that the real issue may be that the sepsis was caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase positive gram negative bacteria (ESBL), which "are now spreading rapidly within the Irish population" and are resistant to many known antibiotic treatments.

"[38] Minister for Health James Reilly said that the public must not pre-judge the situation and that he was awaiting the results of the investigations, adding he had no evidence of a "Catholic ethos" at the University Hospital that prevented Halappanavar's life from being saved by a medical termination.

Campaigners argued that legislation remained outstanding at the time of Halappanavar's death despite the European Court of Human Rights having instructed the state to clarify its laws on abortion after finding in A, B and C v Ireland (2010) that Ireland had violated the Convention by failing to provide an accessible and effective procedure by which a woman can have established whether she qualifies for a legal abortion under current Irish law.

Irish Choice Network allegedly emailed members, calling for an emergency meeting to discuss how to proceed with this "major news story".

"[48] Father Shenan J. Boquet, president of Human Life International, said that there was no evidence to indicate that "a Catholic ethos" prevented responsible treatment of the mother, and called news reports that that was the case "demonizing the Church's position on abortion".

[52] In India, Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid recalled the Indian ambassador to Ireland, Debashish Chakravarti, for deliberations over the issue.

[53] Chakravarti later met Eamon Gilmore, Ireland's Tánaiste and foreign minister, and promised to keep Halappanavar's husband up to date with the government's response.

[54] Rajeev Chandrasekhar, an independent member of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Parliament of India) said, "The death of Savita Halappanavar should be pursued by family and Govt.

"[8]: 13 The panel found that hospital staff failed to adhere to clinical guidelines on severe sepsis and septic shock, calling for timely and effective management after first diagnosis.

... Erythromycin has also been shown to delay delivery which is beneficial in the management of preterm pre-labour rupture of the membranes but not in cases of inevitable miscarriage.

It is recommended that such guidelines be developed for such patients as a matter of urgency and they should be explicit in the guidance given as to when one should offer termination based on symptoms and signs of infection implying increasing health risk to the mother which may even threaten her life.We recognise that such guidelines must be consistent with applicable law and that the guidance so urged may require legal change.

[12] It found "following the rupture of her membranes, four-hourly observations including temperature, heart rate, respiration and blood pressure did not appear to have been carried out at the required intervals", noting "that though UHG [University Hospital Galway] had a guideline in place for the management of suspected sepsis and sepsis in obstetric care, the clinical governance arrangements were "not robust enough to ensure adherence to this guideline".

[12][62][63] Partly in response to the protest movement after the death of Savita Halappanavar,[64][65] the Irish government introduced the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013.

[66] On 20 September 2013, Praveen Halappanavar's solicitor served legal proceedings against Galway University Hospital and separately against Doctor Katherine Astbury.

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