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A woman signs a book of condolence for Savita Halappanavar in Galway in November. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

HSE 'disappointed' with leak of draft Savita investigation report

In a statement the HSE said the investigation’s terms of reference required it to observe appropriate confidentiality.

THE HSE has expressed its annoyance that a draft edition of the report of its investigation into the death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway last year has made it into the public arena.

The draft report was obtained by the Evening Herald, and reported on in today’s edition of that newspaper.

The Herald said the draft investigation had found that an abortion should have been considered days before Halappanavar’s death, given that she was miscarrying and her child had no prospect of survival.

It also reportedly finds that a blood infection – thought to have been the key cause of death – had been undiagnosed for days before her death in Galway University Hospital.

“The terms of reference of the Investigation Team, led by independent Chairman Prof Sir Arulkumaran, state that the investigation will be ‘cognisant of the rights of all involved to privacy and confidentiality; dignity and respect; due process; and natural and constitutional justice’,” the HSE said this evening.

“All reports commissioned by the HSE go through a rigorous fact checking and verification process before completion,” it added.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on the contents of media reports, given that a final report has not yet been completed.”

It said the investigation team was still working to produce a “robust” report as soon as possible.

Earlier today health minister James Reilly said he hoped to have the final edition report by next week.

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

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

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22 Comments
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    Mute Steve O'Hara-Smith
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:04 PM

    Why do we give a billion euro trade opportunity to organised crime, let them supply dangerously adulterated products of unkowable quality for consumption by honest and mostly respectable people who we then criminalise for their taste in intoxicants ?
    Does that sound sane to anyone ?

    192
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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:36 PM

    @Steve O’Hara-Smith: because the “war on drugs” mantra. Drugs have won that war a long time ago!

    70
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    Mute Mattress Dick
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    Nov 30th 2021, 11:42 AM

    Should have just seized the cocaine. Some drugs are seemingly ok to sell according to the resident Journal druggies

    47
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    Mute Tomo
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    Nov 30th 2021, 11:47 AM

    @Mattress Dick: 16 year olds have easier access to weed than alcohol. That weed is unregulated, of unknown strength, could be full of chemicals and is of unknown quality.

    Why are we still doing this? How many times does this need explaining?

    233
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    Mute Mattress Dick
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:11 PM

    @Tomo: you’re right. Seizing all drugs is good so it doesn’t get into the hands of kids

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    Mute Mac Muinteoir
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:25 PM

    @Mattress Dick: correct. Like nicotine. And alcohol. And caffeine. Maybe when Germany and Luxembourg join Canada in creating a legal, regulated market for recreational cannabis, druggies like you will add cannabis to your list of acceptable drugs.

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:45 PM

    @Mattress Dick: I’d rather listen to well informed druggies than an /gn0rant moral crusader who thinks they know how everybody else should live their life!

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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Nov 30th 2021, 1:30 PM

    @Mattress Dick: If you were genuinely worried about drugs getting into the hands of kids you’d be pro legalisation. As it stands, we leave all control to the black market with no quality checks, no age limits and no oversight.

    And if this valuation is correct then this is €1.3 million in lost revenue to the state which is obscene. And that’s not counting all the money wasted trying to enforce prohibition.

    We have got to wake up on this..

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    Mute John Johnes
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    Nov 30th 2021, 4:52 PM

    We are fighting it – keeping the drug lords in business.

    Germany legalising it – pushing drug lords away out of business.

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    Mute Ciarán O' Donoghue
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    Nov 30th 2021, 11:57 AM

    Comments open on a criminal investigation?!

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    Mute Graham Purtell
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:19 PM

    @Ciarán O’ Donoghue: *Grabs Popcorn*

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    Mute Mac Muinteoir
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    Nov 30th 2021, 12:25 PM

    @Ciarán O’ Donoghue: comments will be closed once/if they are charged.

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    Mute Ger O'Reilly
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    Nov 30th 2021, 3:28 PM

    They will be out on bail in no time and whatever crimes they subsequently commit will not add to their sentence.

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    Mute Ellie Mae
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    Nov 30th 2021, 5:20 PM

    The drugs seized sold back to the gangs by CAB and then done over and over again for the great money loop

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