By The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012, 9:45 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

DUBLIN — The widower of an Indian woman who died in an Irish hospital after being refused an abortion plans to sue Ireland's government in the European Court of Human Rights.

Praveen Halappanavar confirmed his decision on Thursday through his lawyer, Gerard O'Donnell.

His wife, Savita, died Oct. 28 in a hospital in Galway, one week after being admitted for severe pain while having a miscarriage.

Doctors refused to perform an abortion for three days while the 17-week-old fetus still had a heartbeat. Savita fell gravely ill after the dead fetus was removed, and she suffered gradual organ failure.

A coroner ruled she died from blood poisoning.

The case has forced Ireland to re-examine laws governing when women can receive abortions to save their own lives.

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