Midwife urges HSE to settle so she can get life-prolonging drug

A midwife who is suing the HSE over being wrongfully accused of malpractice is appealing for her action to be settled so she can access drugs that may save her life.

Philomena Canning, who was the leading independent midwife and homebirth advocate in the State, has terminal cancer and has only weeks to live. She is hoping her life may be prolonged by the immunotherapy drug, Pembro. The drug is available on the public health system to those afflicted with cervical cancer, but Ms Canning is suffering from ovarian cancer.