Our thoughts are with the husband and family of Savita Halappanavar at this very difficult time.

This is a tragic loss, and we need to remember that Irish doctors are always obliged to intervene to save the life of a mother - even if that risks the life of her baby.

In fact, the Medical Council are very clear in this regard that their guidelines state that doctors will be struck off if they don't intervene to save the life of a mother. The result of the investigation into Ms Halappanavar's death will make the facts known, and journalists have been rushing to pre-empt those investigations when they are not in full possession of the facts.

According to an article in the Irish Times, it seems that the administration of antibiotics may not have started until the Tuesday following Savita Halappanavar's first presenting at the hospital. The delay may have contributed to the septicaemia which tragically led to her death, but only the result of an investigation will reveal the full facts.

Experts commenting on the case have made it clear that in such cases the main concentration of the medical team treating any woman in this situations would be on maintaining her health. Interventions to deal with the cause of the illness were not considered a therapeutic termination of pregnancy, another Dublin-based practitioner told the newspaper.

Ireland's ban on abortion does not pose a threat to women's lives, according to the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who care for Irish women every day. In fact, without abortion, Ireland is one of the safest places in the world for a mother to have a baby, according to the United Nations.

"This is a hugely difficult time for the family of Savita Halappanavar, and we hope that the investigations shed a full light on this tragic loss of life," said Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute.

"It is very sad to see abortion campaigners rush to exploit this case to further their own agenda," she added. "The tragic loss of Savita Halappanavar's life was not caused by Ireland's ban on abortion. We need to ensure that mothers and babies are best protected; and abortion is not part of best medical practise. It is medieval medicine. "