The jury at Savita Halappanavar's inquest has retired to consider 2 possible verdicts and 9 recommendations, including guidelines on abortion. The 31-year-old dentist died from septicaemia at Galway University Hospital on October 28th last year, following a miscarriage.

Today is the 5th anniversary of her marriage to engineer Praveen Halappanavar.

Coroner Dr. Ciaran MacLoughlin has given a summary of the evidence to the jury based on the 36 witnesses who testified at the inquiry. He describing Savita's final days in ICU when the 'life of this vibrant young woman ebbed away'.

He has explained that the 11 jurors can return either a narrative verdict outlining the circumstances of Savita Halappanavar's death or a verdict of misadventure.

The jury has been told a verdict of misadventure would be permissible if systemic failures or deficiencies in Savita's medical management are identified.

Consultant obstetrician Dr. Katherine Astbury acknowledged there had been a failure to check the patient's vital signs every four hours once her foetal membranes ruptured, he said.

A blood sample showing an elevated white cell count was not acted on properly and he raised the issue of doctors and nurses keeping separate notes. The coroner has also suggested 9 recommendations for the jury to consider to prevent further fatalities, including national protocols for managing sepsis.

'Savita would probably be alive'

Expert witness Dr. Peter Boylan, a former Master at the National Maternity Hospital gave evidence that Savita would probably be alive if an abortion had been permitted.

The 31-year-old was told her 17 weeks pregnancy was unviable but she was refused a termination 5 days before her death under Irish law because there was not a real and substantial risk to her life.

The jury has been asked to consider whether the Medical Council should convey in their guidelines when a doctor can intervene to terminate a pregnancy.

He said it would reassure the public and would remove the doubt and fear of medics who are currently operating with the threat of criminal sanctions should they get it wrong.

Doctors may even be erased from the medical register which he said was a 'path of ignominy and shame'. He added doctors who practice medicine in good faith should not have to labour under the threat of these sanctions.

Follow @newstalkfm for live updates from the final day of the Savita inquest.

On his way into the inquest this morning Savita's husband Praveen said he is still optimistic about the process.

Mr. Halappanavar was met by a media scrum in Galway this morning.

Pictured above is Dr. Ciaran Macloughlin