TheJournal.ie uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 15 °C Saturday 25 May, 2013

Savita’s husband should get first briefing on HSE report – Taoiseach

Enda Kenny was responding to the apparent leaking of a draft report into the controversial death of Savita Halappanavar last October.

Savita Halappanavar and her husband Praveen
Savita Halappanavar and her husband Praveen
Image: Photocall Ireland

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has told the Dáil that the husband of Savita Halappanavar should be the first to be briefed on the content of a report into her death in a Galway hospital last October.

Kenny was responding to a question in the Dáil concerning the apparent leaking of a draft copy of the HSE’s clinical review into the Indian woman’s death at University Hospital Galway last year.

Details of the report are published in today’s Evening Herald and appear to indicate that Savita should have been given the option of terminating the pregnancy – which is said to have been non-viable before she went into hospital – before she and her husband, Praveen, requested one.

Kenny said that he had asked the Minister for Health James Reilly about the matter this morning and was told the report had not been finalised and had not been received by the Minister.

“I would have expected that the husband of the late woman should be the first person who should be briefed about what’s happening here,” he told the Dáil.

He said that he was not going to make any comment about the newspaper story as the report by the HSE was not finished and has not been received by the Minister.

It is understood that the work of the HSE clinical review team, led by Sir Prof Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, was concluded over six weeks ago and drafts of it have been circulated to affected parties.

Three separate inquiries are under way into Savita’s death including the HSE one.

A Health Information and Quality Authority report is not expected for some time while a coroner’s inquest will resume on 8 April in Galway.

Earlier: Leaked Savita death report backs government’s decision to legislate – Rabbitte

Read next:

Comments (10 Comments)

  • What herald did was wrong . Shame on them

    Reply
    • Zoe Daly 13/02/13 #

      Yes I agree, – the leaking of the incomplete report to the media was not helpful.
      I wonder if the HSE will be able to trace the source responsible for the leak.

      Reply
    • Or perhaps whoever leaked it was wrong. Ridiculous – nothing ever gets published in the correct manner in this country any more. Why is there this continuous leaking of information. It generally undermines everything.

      Reply
  • This report was given to many people for there comments so finding the pesron who leaked this is impossible . Mr O Donnell who is Mr Halappanavar legal representative has previously stated that he has leaked information to the press in order to keep interest in the case in the media

    This is neither fair to Mr Halappanavar his late wife or anyone else involved in the case. People from both sides of the abortion camp are using this tragedy for there own means and the way I look at it they don’t give a damm about the human beings who were involved in this tragedy be they working in the hospital or be they relatives or loved ones of the deceased woman !
    The journalist who got this scoop I have no doubt is been toasted by his friends and colleagues for a job well
    done !

    Reply
    • Don’t forget that one of the stated aims of Praveen Halappanavar in pursuing investigation was to effect a change in the law in the aftermath of what happened to his wife. He has clearly positioned himself on one side of the debate, and with good reason.

      He is not being used, and nor is this tragedy.Rather he has shown great courage in the face of his awful loss in working to make sure such a tragic outcome never happens to another woman.

      Reply
  • I think Mr Halappanavar should have been one of the first people briefed on what’s happening – but it’s been reported that the inquiry was completed 6 weeks ago – so why the delay? Why wasn’t he briefed 6 weeks ago?

    Reply
  • Grabbing more headlines there Enda?

    Reply

Add New Comment