Hi °C | Lo °C THE Government is expected to examine a final report on the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar within 10 days.
Health Minister Dr James Reilly refused to be drawn on contents of a draft report from the inquiry, which points to a lack of clarity on abortion rules and absent leadership among hospital staff.
Mrs Halappanavar, 31, died on October 28 at University Hospital Galway, 17 weeks into her pregnancy.
Dr Reilly said he intended to release the Health Service Executive (HSE) report as soon as possible, but indicated there may be legal reason not to publish it in full.
"I haven't seen it and I don't have it," he said.
Mrs Halappanavar miscarried and subsequently suffered septicaemia, and her husband claims that doctors refused to carry out an abortion as a foetal heartbeat was present.
The HSE inquiry looked at Mrs Halappanavar's treatment from October 21-28.
Draft findings from the inquiry included that blood tests from the day Mrs Halappanavar was admitted were not followed up on, the Evening Herald has reported.
It also found doctors did not respond immediately to calls to attend to her because they were too busy, and it warns that abortion on medical grounds was not considered early enough in her care.
Dr Reilly has previously warned that the inquiry might be considered incomplete as Mrs Halappanavar's husband Praveen did not co-operate.
"I can't make any comment until I have the report because clearly there could be legal issues arising out of this as well," Mr Reilly said.
"And I want to deal with facts, the facts given to me in the report by Professor Arulkumaran, who is very near the completion. And as far as I know the final drafts are out for consultation."
The draft report, being examined by all interested parties, found a lack of clear guidelines on the issue of abortion may have been a contributory factor.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted the priority should be to explain the findings to Mr Halappanavar.
"That report is not finalised and has not been received by the minister," Mr Kenny said.
"I would have expected that the husband of the late woman should be the first person who should be briefed about what has happened here, and I am not going to make any comment about newspaper reports because this report is not concluded, it's not finalised and has not been received by the minister.
"When it is, the first person to be briefed about the report should be her husband."
Three inquiries were launched into Mrs Halappanavar's death, by the HSE, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and an inquest by coroner Ciaran MacLoughlin in Galway.
Mr Halappanavar says the couple requested an abortion on medical grounds but were refused with one medic telling them it was because Ireland is a Catholic country.
The HSE reportedly also found that the blood infection which led to the mother-to-be's death was not diagnosed for three days and there are a lack of basic records on her well being.
The HSE inquiry was set up to establish the factual circumstances leading up to her death and recommend actions that will address the factors that led to her death to eliminate or reduce the risk of a repeat.
The inquiry chairman, Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital, University of London, was granted access to all relevant staff and personnel, files and records.
An inquest into the death is set for April 8 and scheduled for one week.
