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THERE HAS BEEN mixed reaction to the verdict of ‘medical misadventure’ at the inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar at Galway University Hospital last year.
Groups campaigning on the issue of abortion issued statements in the immediate aftermath of the verdict in the controversial and high-profile case of the death of the 31-year-old dentist from septic shock, E.coli in the bloodstream and a miscarriage at 17 weeks.
When the case was reported last November it threw the issue of abortion back into the spotlight with the government now set to legislate for the Supreme Court verdict in the X Case in the coming weeks.
The Pro Life Campaign welcomed the verdict and the recommendations from the coroner for guidelines about when to carry out an abortion to be clarified by the Medical Council.
Dr Berry Kiely said the inquest had shown that a number of “‘systems failures’ and communications shortcomings significantly delayed the moment at which the medical team recognised the seriousness of her condition and carried out the appropriate medical intervention.”
She added that it is “disturbing that those calling for abortion legislation never point out that no medical evidence whatsoever was heard in the X case.”
However, the Abortion Rights Campaign said that the eighth amendment to the Constitution – which protects the right to life of the unborn – played a “huge part” in Savita’s death and said it needs to be repealed “immediately”.
“We urge the Irish government in the strongest possible terms to legislate immediately to give pregnant women’s lives legal protection here under the terms upheld in two referenda. The delay is unjustifiable,” Sinéad Redmond said.
The chief operating officer of Galway Roscommon Hospital Group, Tony Canavan, acknowledged the findings and recommendations of the inquest and said that deficiencies identified would and in some cases had already had been implemented.
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Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on health Caomhghín Ó Caoláin was among the first to come out with political reaction saying that Savita was “sadly let down by the healthcare system”.
“The recommendation on the need for far clearer guidelines on the appropriateness and timing of termination to save the life of the mother, is especially important,” he said.
“Such guidelines, in tandem with legislation in line with the X case, need to be advanced as speedily as possible.”
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Poor Savita. RIP.
Poor Savita. She was so let down by Galway Hospital in their care for her. Praveen said she may as well have stayed at home rather than go to hospital for all the care she received. Shocking.
I am so sorry he didnt get the answers he was looking for.
Dr Berry Kiely would do well to realise that the X Case was put before the people and the people upheld it.
We were also asked to remove the suicide clause in 2002 yet we, the people, did not.
So regardless of her views on the circumstances of the case, the people have spoken. And the people consider suicide a valid risk to the woman’s life.
Dr Keily should try to remember that this is a democracy, and this is how it works.
I hope that Praveen can find closure, our laws failed him. They were the opposite of Pro Life.
Can you provide a link as to where “the people consider suicide a valid risk to the womans’ life” ?
Oireachtas hearing heard unanimous and authoritative evidence that abortion NOT needed for suicidal ideation…
There was also 15 Ob/Gyns who wished to heard who wrote that the proposed legislation did not arise from any evidence medical need..
“An obstetrician with the responsibility for two patients faced with terminating a normal pregnancy on grounds of suicide would place them in an impossible situation..”
Shane, read your own post! Of course suicide is a valid risk to a womans health! Is it more of an issue if a man is suicidal? Do you take his health more seriously?
Bridget. Please replace Dr Berry Keilys name with your own and re read my comment.
In this country changes to our constitution need to be voted upon, this was why the X Case decision was put to the people, and the people endorsed it. Whatever opinion you may have about it, the democratic result was that the X Case was upheld.
The “pro life” lobby got another chance, in 2002 we went back to the polls and reaffirmed what we said in 1992, the suicide clause stays in.
The upcoming legislation will include the suicide clause, because that is what the people voted for. The only way you can change that is with a referendum, and if we are doing that then we should be revisiting the 8th Amendment.
+1
So, Savita died sez the Coroner at her inquest “of septic shock, E Coli blood infection and miscarraige”.
So, her tragic death was just used and exploited then, by the pro abortion lobby, their DAIL allies, and their media cheerleaders (in Irish TImes , other media etc) to vociferously drive their abortion on demand agenda.
Twasn’t Irelands prolife anti abortion laws killed that tragic woman at all. How sickening her sad death was used and abused by the Irish and foreign pro abortion politico/media mob. Tells a lot about them.
Not too many of them holding any candle vigils for her now. They have used her, and moved on. Funny, they never mention Bimbo Ananuaga, a poor Nigerian woman who died in a Dublin hospital from previous abortion damage. Or the young Irish woman who died after leaving a London Marie Stopes abortion clinic.
I guess those dead women don’t suit the Irish pro abortion so-called feminist playbook. Hypocrites.
Too bad our vocal Dail pro aborts weren’t around for Savitas Coroners verdict of “medical misadventure” . Vote these pro abortion hypocrites out, dump the pro abortion propagandists posing as national journalists.
The only winners in this are the leeches in the legal “profession”…..
Im neutral in the abortion debate, but her death was Christmas for the pro choice bunch…
A woman died. It was not “Christmas” for anyone! Clown!
Seriously!!!!! Would you think before you write
Look, I’m not denying its a tragic event, but really, are we all just commenting just to mention pleasantries.
Its undeniable that this shifts the winds for this argument of for and against. I’ll admit I could have worded it better, but its a fact isn’t it? All of the politicians are suddenly interested in mother fetal life value. Before that they were happy to let it simmer in the background of Irish politics
That is a truly despicable comment and I sincerely hope Praveen Halappanavar doesn’t get to read it. How insensitive can you be?
hsianloon – you speak the truth… the pro-aborts ignored Praveens request that Savita’s name not be dragged into debate on abortion… but the pro-aborts have as little respect for the grieving father-to-be and husband of poor Savita as they do for the babies they want mass-murdered.
Actually, he’s said repeatedly that he wants to ensure that no other woman suffers as she did – so by opposing legislation, you have very little respect for his views.
Daniel.
Praveen approached pro choice Galway and decided to go public because he wanted to ensure that this never happened again, he has said that he feels he owes that to the memory of his now deceased wife (you will find evidence of this on this very site if you care to look).
Please – show us evidence of where he said what you claim.
agreed.— and how they exploited her death shamelessly…
don’t be neutral. Defend unborn babies in the womb against the pro abortion liars. You, and your kids if u have any, were ijust the same once… what do these eejits think thay are encouraging women to abort, rabbits or kittens? Its a human life like u or me or anyone.
and Prochoice Galway exploited him and her for their own ideological pro abortion agenda…
give us a break…
He’s right — the pro abortion bunch, in media and in politics, ruthlessly exploited Savitas tragic death — they are having any Vigils now for her, since the truth of the medical facts of the CoronersInquest came out…
they exploited her sad death ruthlessly…..and manipulated the public…..
I don’t think it was the health care system that let her down, it was irish law.
THE LAW DID NOT LET HER DOWN. THE HEALTH SYSTEM DID.
Rubbish John, did u listen to the findings of the inquest?
Medical misadventure?!
Coroners court does not blame anyone but provides guidelines for reasons why. Kind of an Irish thing really, we’re good at this, like an opinion on neutrality or anything else that requires an absolute decision. We just don’t do it. It means ownership and acceptance of a problem, we don’t like that us irish. Best make a generalisation on the issue and ask others to review. We can’t think for ourselves, maybe it was the doctors, midwives, lack of legislation or just Sepsis but heck best not make any judgement lest we actually be accused of making a decision on a tough subject.
Cian. It seems to me that her care was non existant from the start. She was basically left to die… Disgraceful
It was both.
And that was for Kathy Nolan.
Rubbish. Read the Coroners verdict again.
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