Make-up of HSE clinical review team dogged by controversy

Considering the contentious nature of the case, it is perhaps unsurprising that even the make-up of the HSE “clinical review” into Savita Halappanavar’s death has repeatedly been dogged by controversy.

From questions over the review chairman’s background to the removal of half of the team due to claims of potential bias, the 108-page report has faced hurdles even outside uncovering the facts of the case.

The inquiry was chaired by Prof Sabaratnam Arulkumaran who has a stellar background in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Based in London, he is president of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a former honorary secretary of Britain’s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. He was knighted in 2009 for his services to medicine.

However, while he has a world-renowned record in the field, the senior medic came under pressure to step down after being appointed chair of the HSE clinical review last November.

This was because he co- authored a research paper advocating limited abortion in countries with conservative laws in the Aug 2009 edition of US medical publication the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

The research, titled ‘Safer Childbirth: a rights based approach’, highlighted the impact of the UN’s millennium development goals since 2000.

In section four, it read: “Termination of pregnancy is a sensitive issue in many parts of the world because of religious, cultural, social, and traditional beliefs. We would like to challenge and encourage societies and countries with restrictive abortion laws to look at the evidence available in favour of liberal abortions laws and debate the possibility of making the choice of termination of pregnancy a legal right for women.”

When the make-up of the clinical review was announced, it included three officials with connections to Galway University Hospital.

After concerns were raised over the issue, Taoiseach Enda Kenny requested that Prof John J Morrison, Dr Catherine Fleming, and Dr Brian Harte all step down from the team to ensure there was no question of bias.

They were replaced by James Walker, professor and honorary consultant of obstetrics and gynaecology at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds; Dr Brian Marsh, consultant in intensive care medicine at the Mater and former dean at the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in Ireland; and Prof Mary Horgan, consultant physician at Cork University Hospital.

Other members of the seven-person panel were Cora McCaughan of the HSE’s national incident management team; Cathriona Molloy of independent group Patient Focus; and Geraldine Keohane, director of midwifery at Cork University Hospital.