HIQA ASKED TO CONSIDER SAVITA INQUIRY

Date Published: 22-Nov-2012

The Health Information and Quality Authority has been asked by the HSE to consider starting a statutory inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar at Galway University Hospital last month.

However the HSE’s own investigation is to continue.

Its chief executive Tony O’Brien says Praveen Halappanavar’s decision not to co-operate with its inquiry does not absolve it its duty to investigate Savita’s death.

He said it would be criminally negligent not to proceed with this investigation.

The HSE also says Praveen Halappanavar’s consent is not required to allow Savita’s medical records be examined by the investigating team.

Meanwhile, the husband of Savita Halappanavar has contacted the Indian ambassador, urging him to ask the Irish government to establish a public inquiry into his wife’s death at UHG last month

In the Dáil the Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, who was taking questions on behalf of the government, said the HSE investigation would be completed – in a preliminary way – before Christmas.