Foetus, and not Savita, the main focus of medical team, report finds
A HSE report into the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway last year has found that the foetus she was miscarrying, and not the deteriorating health of the mother, was the main focus of the medical team.
The report, details of which are published in various media today, says Savita's vital signs were inadequately monitored and although she was seriously ill by Tuesday, October 23, this was not acted on. She died five days later on October 28, from septicaemia.
Savita's husband Praveen has said the report fails to explain why she died. His solicitor and a medical advisor will meet the chairman of the investigating team on his behalf later this week.
Praveen Halappanavar spent the last four days reading the report before revealing through his legal team that he believes it contains “shortcomings” and “issues that need to be clarified”.
According to RTÉ News, Mr Halappanavar does not believe the report explains why Savita died, or why they were treated as they were at University Hospital Galway.
Tony Canavan, chief operating officer at the Galway/Roscommon Hospital Group, said the HSE would like to meet with Mr Halappanavar.
Irish Times reporter Kitty Holland, who first broke the story, said it would appear that Savita's condition was inadequately monitored.
"The quote from the final draft report (as it) was read out to me is: 'The investigating team considers there was an apparent over-emphasis on the need not to intervene until the foetal heartbeat stopped, together with an under-emphasis on the need to focus on an appropriate attention on monitoring for and managing the risk of infection and sepsis in the mother'."
Kitty Holland added: "So…basic monitoring of an ill patient was not being done, it would appear."
