THE CEO OF the HSE has apologised to a couple who terminated their pregnancy after they were wrongly told their baby had a fatal foetal abnormality.

Rebecca Price and Pat Kiely were informed in 2019 that a blood test taken when Ms Price was 12 weeks pregnant was positive for Trisomy 18.

Trisomy 18 is a serious and rare genetic disorder also known as Edwards’ Syndrome. A second test was carried out in a laboratory in Scotland that also showed it had been detected.

The couple were told not to wait for the results of a full chromosomal analysis, and followed the advice of their consultant to terminate the pregnancy in March 2019 as the pregnancy was not viable. 

They later discovered that full cell culture analysis showed their son did not have any chromosomal abnormality.

They named their unborn son Christopher.

In 2021, the couple settled High Court actions in respect of the case. The defendants – the Merrion clinic consultants, the National Maternity hospital and the Scottish laboratory – admitted full liability.

The HSE confirmed that its CEO Bernard Gloster recently met with the couple and provided them with a full apology on behalf of the health service.

In a statement, Gloster said, “I recently had the opportunity to meet with Rebecca and Pat and offered them a full apology for the devastating loss of baby Christopher following their care at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street.

“While nobody can undo the harm the Kielys have suffered, it is my strong view, and that of the Minister for Health, whom they have also recently met, that they deserve at least to have this documented and unequivocal apology on behalf of the health service.”

He said he updated them of his intention to begin an independent external review of the case to understand fully what happened in relation to the care provided to them, “and ensure learning across our services”.

He said he is currently in the process of finalising the details relating to the review, including identifying the appropriate person to lead it.

“I have advised the team at the National Maternity Hospital of this decision and sought their participation,” Gloster said.

“I recognise that no words or actions can undo the loss suffered by Rebecca and Pat, but I hope the establishment of an independent review will allow us understand what went wrong in relation to their care and learn from it.”