Savita’s husband faces week-long wait before seeing report
Praveen Halappanavar wrote to Health Minister James Reilly yesterday demanding access to the final draft document which outlines what happened at Galway University Hospital in October.
However, Dr Reilly said he could not make a copy available as he did not have one himself. He is due to receive a copy of the final report within the next 10 days.
Details in the leaked extracts include:
*A miscarriage was so likely staff should have considered a medical termination before the couple asked. A midwife interviewed by the HSE said: “I immediately thought that she would miscarry.” This was a day before a doctor found a foetal heartbeat and said an abortion was not allowed;
*Blood tests taken during admittance on Sunday, Oct 21, showed Ms Halappanavar was at risk of septicaemia;
*Staff on Tuesday, Oct 23, were asked to check on her deteriorating condition but the report claims they were too busy with other patients. When she was finally checked on Wednesday, no blood tests or blood pressure was taken. A staff midwife said: “There were no signs she was septic... I didn’t think she was unwell enough.”
The HSE report is one of three investigations into her death.
It notes a staff member’s decision not to induce miscarriage as this is not possible under Irish law when there is a foetal heart beat. However, it does not address claims an abortion was not allowed as “this is a Catholic country”, because this is not a clinical issue. This will be examined by the Health Information Quality Authority, and the coroner’s court hearing starting at Galway courthouse on Apr 8.
The HSE last week again asked Mr Halappanavar to take part in its review — a request which was turned down. Last night, the HSE failed to clarify if the draft report would be given to the family.
Mr Halappanavar’s solicitor, Gerard O’Donnell, said the leaks and uncertainty were adding to the heartache of those closest to Ms Halappanavar.
“Praveen is very disappointed that he has still not seen the report, and there really is some urgency in publishing the findings at this stage,” he said. “From what’s been reported he is vindicated, it bears out what he has said from the start, but the minister or the HSE must provide him with a copy of the draft at this stage.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “I would have expected, as normal courtesy should apply, that the husband of the late woman should be the first person briefed about what is happening.”
