Ireland's health watchdog, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has launched an investigation into the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who allegedly died in a hospital after being refused an abortion by the medical workers.

The government has already indicated that it is moving to legalize abortion when the mother's life is at risk. It is believed that Halappanavar could not get an abortion because of the stringent abortion laws in the country and this led to her death. Savita died at Galway University Hospital on October 28 after she was admitted on October 21 with severe back pain.

Her husband said that she demanded termination of the pregnancy but the medical staff did not agree to her requests. They told her that the foetal heartbeat was still present and "this is a Catholic country". Medical reports showed that she contracted septicaemia and died on October 28.

A spokesperson for HIQA said that the agency will complete the investigation and publish the report as soon as possible. The agency has already started working on the investigation this week after it appointed the team of investigators. The eleven member team will include a consultant midwife, consultant obstetrician and two microbiologists among others.

The team has been asked to look at the safety of HSE services to patients that includes pregnant women who face the risk of deterioration as in the case of treatment provided to Savita Halappanavar.