Savita Halappanavar inquiry chief invites husband’s feedback on report

The independent chairman of the inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar in hospital in Galway last October has extended an offer to meet her husband Praveen to receive his feedback on its report, the HSE said last night.

The final draft report of the investigation team chaired by Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital, University of London, was given to Mr Halappanavar yesterday.

The HSE said in a short statement it had been provided to him for his observations and feedback.

“Once Mr Halappanavar has had an opportunity to consider the draft report, and to provide his feedback, this draft report will be finalised by the investigation team.

“The terms of reference of the investigation team state that they will be ‘cognisant of the rights of all involved to privacy and confidentiality; dignity and respect; due process; and natural and constitutional justice.’ Every effort continues to be made to ensure that this remains the case.”

Mr Halappanavar will this weekend study the draft report in consultation with his solicitor and a medical expert. His solicitor, Gerard O’Donnell, said he may decide by Monday on his approach to it.

He said Mr Halappanavar

Neither Mr Halappanavar nor Mr O’Donnell had read the reports about its contents, so both of them were coming to the final draft with “fresh minds”, he said.

Mr Halappanavar declined to participate in the inquiry, believing it to be compromised because it had been established by the HSE.

However, Mr O’Donnell said Mr Halappanavar was anxious that the report, which would in time be published, should be an accurate record of what happened to his wife.

“We will decide what approach we will have in terms of whether I will make any comments, or whether my client will make any comments personally or whether he will meet with the chairman [of the investigation team],” said Mr O’Donnell.

He said that if Mr Halappanavar had comments to make on the final draft, they would be considered by the review committee which produced it and they would decide, on merit, whether they should be included in the report or appended to it.

Tony Canavan, chief operating officer with the Galway Roscommon Hospital Group, said yesterday that he would like comment and input from Mr Halappanavar. He said the report would be "stronger" for the participation of a "family member".

The completion of the report remains a matter for Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran and it will then be presented to the Minister for Health.

The Minister, James Reilly, said earlier this week he had not seen the draft report ahead of it being furnished to Mr Halappanavar.

“I want to allow him and his advisers time to examine the report. There will be an invitation extended to him to meet with the chairman and then to make any observations that he might wish to make which therefore could be incorpated into the report.

“So this is the final draft from the HSE’s side and the inquiry’s but it’s not the final report because there is the opportunity for Mr Halappanavar to make adjustments and to have a contribution put in there by him which would allow then for it to be finalised and published.

“Obviously I would want to bring it to Cabinet before it is published.”