Savita Halappanavar case: No suspension, dismissal of staffers

London: Nine members of an Irish medical team that treated Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied a potentially life-saving abortion when she was found to be miscarrying in 2012, have been disciplined with written warnings issued to some of them.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) on Thursday confirmed that disciplinary action has been taken against nine staff members at University Hospital Galway following a probe into the death of Savita in October 2012.

Twenty-one other staff members at the hospital have been told that they have “no case to answer”, RTE News reported.

The HSE said the disciplinary process against most of the nine staffers involved is now complete.

It said warnings, including written warnings, were issued to some staff and pre-procedural informal counselling with training and mentoring was applied to others. There have been no dismissals or suspensions.

Galway University Hospital said the nine were part of the larger medical team looking after Savita before she died from blood poisoning.

A solicitor representing Savita’s husband Praveen has said neither he nor his client were aware that disciplinary action was taking place against HSE staff members who cared for her.

“The first I learnt of it was this morning, early this morning, when I received contact from RTE looking for a reaction from me. I would have appreciated, or I would have expected out of courtesy, that the HSE would have communicated this to us so that I could have communicated to my client and, thereafter, get instructions from him as to what his reaction was,” Gerard O’Donnell said.

31-year-old Savita had demanded that her pregnancy be terminated after fearing the foetus was dead and likely to give her sepsis. Her request was turned down after medical staff said they detected a foetal heartbeat. She was 17 weeks pregnant and miscarrying when she fell ill.

Savita along with her husband Praveen, repeatedly asked for a termination because they believed her life was in danger.

Her death had triggered a massive debate in the predominantly Catholic country over the issue of life-saving abortions and resulted in a new law that allows abortions under extreme circumstances.

Irish Parliament voted to legalise abortion in cases of medical emergencies as well as the risk of suicide in July 2013.

The inquest into her death returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

Last November, the West/North West Hospital Group ordered a review of the actions of all staff members who treated Savita.

PTI