A BELFAST CONSULTANT says there was still a small chance that Dhara Kivlehan could have been saved when she was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Denise Canavan from ShannonsideFM reports that, under questioning at the inquest into the death of the 29 year old, critical care specialist Dr Paul Glover refused to agree that Ms Kivlehan was “beyond repair” by the time she was transferred to Belfast from Sligo General Hospital days before she died in September 2010.
It follows evidence earlier today from the then Sligo Consultant Dr Ronan O’Hare who confirmed that two days before her transfer, he told Ms Kivlehan’s widower Michael that it was likely she would die, and that there was nothing more that could be done for her at any other hospital.
Belfast’s Dr Paul Glover told Sligo Leitrim Coroner’s Court that Ms Kivlehan’s admission to the Royal Victoria Hospital meant that, while her chances of survival were low, it was felt that it was still possible – with supportive measures – she might survive.
The court heard that by the time she arrived in the early hours of the morning of 25 September, there was evidence of widespread organ dysfunction, including failing kidneys and liver.
Dr Glover confirmed that Ms Kivlehan presented with a working diagnosis of HELLP Syndrome – the life threatening obstetric complication often described as a rare variant of pre-eclampsia.
He said his colleagues who received her would never have put her through the procedures that they did, if there was no hope.
He said that when she came into his care, even though age was in her favour, ultimately it proved to be impossible to reverse the fully-blown case of multiple organ failure to save her life.
The court heard that Dhara Kivlehan passed away at 2.10pm on the afternoon of 28 September.
The inquest continues.
Reporting by Denise Canavan. Published with permission of Shannonside, Longford, Roscommon and South Leitrim radio. See more at their website and follow them on Twitter @ShannonsideNews and @DeniseCanavan.
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