Savita's widower kept in the dark about disciplinary action

Praveen Halappanavar has asked his solicitor to request the details of who was disciplined and how.

Savita, a 31-year-old dentist was admitted to Galway University Hospital after an infection went undetected. She suffered a miscarriage but died of blood poisoning. She was repeatedly refused a termination because the foetal heartbeat was present.

The hospital last week confirmed that nine out of 30 medical staff that treated Savita had been disciplined, but her husband was not informed.

Praveen's solicitor, Gerard O'Donnell, told the Sunday Independent he spoke to Praveen on Friday: "He did not have any response. He said 'I don't know who was inquired into, I don't know whether the doctor was inquired into'. He said it was very difficult to have a reaction when you don't know.

"He felt that he should have been informed in writing.

"He has asked me to write to them to find out what happened, to find out what disciplinary action has been taken and against whom, and we are prepared to keep it confidential."

Galway University Hospital has refused to identify the staff to protect their confidentiality and would not say whether those disciplined included the consultant ultimately responsible for Savita's care, Dr Katherine Astbury.

In a statement last week, the hospital confirmed that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against 30 staff who were involved in Savita's care, 21 had no case to answer and nine were disciplined. It said some had received counselling, mentoring and training, some had received written warnings and, for some, the disciplinary process was still ongoing.

Dr Astbury, along with other nurses and junior doctors, testified over several days at an inquest into Savita's death at the hospital in 2011.

Doctors and nurses charged her care from her initial admission to hospital for a suspected miscarriage to her rapid decline four days later when she went into septic shock.

A subsequent investigation by the health watchdog, Hiqa, delivered a serious rebuke to some members of her medical team. That report was published last year.

Although she was not named, Dr Astbury was clearly identified as the consultant with ultimate responsibility for Savita's care.

The report noted that she did not review Savita's blood test results, which showed indications of an infection, nor did any of the other nurses or doctors on her team.

Even after the sepsis had been detected, it said Dr Astbury "did not appear to recognise the significance of the diagnosis", according to the health watchdog, conducting more tests and waiting for the results.

Hiqa said the consultant should have been suitably clinically experienced and competent to interpret clinical findings and act accordingly.

The actions of junior doctors and several nurses were also criticised in the report.

Nurses noted Savita's soaring temperature and racing heart but efforts to get a doctor to see her weren't followed up. A midwife on night duty also missed signs of Savita's advancing sepsis.

The midwife noticed that she was shivering, her teeth were chattering and fetched extra blankets because the room was cold. She took Savita's temperature which indicated a fever but not her pulse.

The health watchdog said the doctors and nurses who treated Savita should be reported to their professional bodies.

It said that when standards fall, patients and the public are "entitled to ask why and be assured that measures have been taken to protect them and future patients from harm".

Praveen Halappanavar is suing the HSE and Dr Astbury over his wife's death.

The reports on her death have been forwarded to the Medical Council and the nurses regulatory body, An Bord Altranais. The complaints against Dr Astbury are now before the Medical Council's preliminary committee, which will decide whether to proceed to a full public hearing into her fitness to practice as a doctor.