The inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar resumes in Galway today.

A preliminary hearing was held last January but the full inquest, which is expected to last around eight days, will now resume before Galway West coroner, Dr Ciaran McLoughlin.

Under coroner legislation, the purpose of inquests include the establishment of the facts surrounding a death and the placing of those facts on the public record. While an inquest may make a general recommendation designed to prevent similar deaths, it does not decide on fault or whether there was a criminal offence.

This inquest will examine the factors that may have contributed to the death of Ms Halappanavar (31) last year. She was admitted to University Hospital Galway on October 21, 2012, when she was 17 weeks pregnant and was found to be miscarrying.

She died from septicaemia on October 28, having reportedly been refused a termination.

The HSE review report into the death, which has not yet been published, claims that a single request for a termination of pregnancy was made. However, Ms Halappanavar's husband, Praveen Halappanavar, insists that three such requests were made. The request for a termination was not recorded in the medical notes at the time, according to the report.

Mr Halappanavar received a copy of the HSE draft report over a week ago, but has said he is unhappy with aspects of it.

Key issues identified in leaks from the report to date include an apparent overemphasis by the hospital on an unviable foetus and an underemphasis on Ms Halappanavar's seriously deteriorating condition.

This week's inquest will mark the first time that staff involved in the case will be identified. Anyone called to give evidence must do so under oath and they may be cross examined. Mr Halappanavar will also give his account of the events that occured before his wife's death.