Savita Halappanavar legal action settled for ‘substantial sum’

The action for damages by the husband of the late Savita Halappanavar against the HSE over her “tragic, untimely and premature” death in 2012 has settled at the High Court on terms believed to include payment of a substantial sum.

Among the claims by Praveen Halappanavar, aged 38, it was alleged the HSE “placed far too great an emphasis on the existence of the foetal heart beat” while his wife was under its care and ignored her own rights, particularly her right to life and right to appropriate medical treatment while she was under its care.

As a result of her death, her husband had lost her society, affection and love and he and her family have suffered great mental distress, upset and hurt, the claim stated. Ms Halappanavar had “enjoyed a good life” and was in good health and her life was shortened by the HSE’s “negligence and misconduct”.