Independent inquiry into death of woman during IVF

THE mother of a woman who died three years ago while undergoing fertility treatment said the inquiry into her death should prevent other women from dying the same way.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said an independent inquiry is to take place into the death of Jacqueline Rushton, 32, from Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

She died on January 14, 2003, in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin when she suffered an overreaction to fertility drugs.

The inquest into her death found she had ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS), a complication associated with IVF where fluid from the bloodstream leaks into the abdominal cavity.

Yesterday, her mother Angela Hickey welcomed the inquiry but said it must highlight those responsible for her death.

“If it gives justice and puts some sort of blame for what happened on the shoulder of the people who didn’t stand up and do anything for her, if it would point some sort of blame for gross negligence, then it might stop this from happening to other people,” she said.

Last September, the Medical Council’s Fitness to Practice Committee held an inquiry into the conduct of Professor Robert Harrison, the head of the Rotunda fertility clinic at the time of Ms Rushton’s death. The inquiry found that Prof Harrison had no case to answer.

Ms Hickey said her family were not satisfied with the manner in which the inquiry was held.

A month after it had taken place, she met Health Minister Mary Harney and asked for an independent inquiry into her daughter’s death.

Prof Harrison, as well as Ms Rushton’s husband Daniel, who signed up for the fertility treatment with her in October 2002, are both expected to be questioned by the inquiry.

A British expert in fertility, Prof Alison Murdoch, will chair the inquiry and no start date has been given.

The terms of reference say it will “examine protocols and procedures relevant to her care and inquire into their application in this case, taking into account prevailing standards of best practice”.

Ms Hickey said she and her husband Fintan are “not doing very well at all”.

“We can never really come to terms with it because it’s something that should just never have happened,” she said.

She said people should be warned of the dangers involved in IVF before undergoing treatment.