The recommendations in the HSE report into the death of Savita Halappanavar (31) in hospital in Galway would save many women's lives if they were implemented, the solicitor for her husband said last night.
The final draft report of the HSE inquiry into Ms Halappanavar’s death at Galway University Hospital last October was received yesterday by solicitor Gerard O’Donnell, who represents Ms Halappanavar’s husband, Praveen.
It was delivered to him by hand by the chief operating officer of the Galway Roscommon Hospital Group, Tony Canavan.
Mr Halappanavar declined an invitation to meet Mr Canavan and he later received the report from his solicitor.
Commenting on the report last night, Mr O’Donnell said: “It draws a number of conclusions and makes a number of recommendations that, if implemented, will go a long way to ensuring nothing like this ever happens again. I do think that.
“I do think my client will have achieved what he always said was his reason for pursuing this – that nothing like this should ever happen to a woman in Ireland again.
“It is an awful pity someone has had to die to achieve this but I think the women of Ireland are fortunate that she had a husband like Praveen. He has been very brave and consistent and would not be fobbed off.”
‘Upsetting reading’
Mr O’Donnell said Mr Halappanavar had “glanced though it. It is a long document – 108 pages – and he has gone away now to read it over the weekend, in his own time. He was upset and it will make for upsetting reading.
“It is a chronological account of everything that happened during that week, based on the medical notes and interviews with those who were involved in her treatment.”
There were also references in the report to the legal situation surrounding abortion in the Republic as well as references to the Constitution, said Mr O’Donnell.
Ms Halappanavar died at Galway University Hospital on October 28th, having presented on the morning of October 21st with severe back pain. She was 17 weeks pregnant and was found to be miscarrying.
Her husband has consistently maintained that both of them asked repeatedly over a three-day period for a termination. This was refused, he says, because the foetal heartbeat was still present.
No time constraints have been put on Mr Halappanavar and his legal and medical advisers for considering the report.
Decision by Monday
However, Mr O’Donnell said he expected them to have come to a decision by Monday on whether they will comment on it or make any input into the final report in order “to make sure that [it] will be accurate and factual”.
The inquest into Ms Halappanavar’s death will reopen on April 8th.
