Pro Life Campaign welcomes HSE report

The Pro Life Campaign welcomed the publication of the HSE review of Savita Halappanavar’s death and said efforts by the political establishment and the media to use it to bolster calls for abortion legislation had been “opportunistic”.

The group said the report clearly indicated that it was a series of medical shortcomings that were at fault.

It's spokeswoman Dr Berry Kiely said the review "highlights yet again that the key issues in the death of Ms Halappanavar were multiple failures to properly assess and monitor her condition which resulted in a tragic failure to recognise the very real risk to her life posed by serious infection.

“If this risk had been recognised, the outcome might have been very different.”

She said the media and political response to her death had sought to take advantage of the case.

“This confirms what the Pro Life Campaign has always claimed, that the way some politicians and media fastened on Savita’s tragic death as somehow bolstering their call for abortion legislation was misplaced and even opportunistic,” she said.

“Surely it is a moment for reflection on the rush to judgment in this tragic case? The Government has plans to introduce very radical abortion legislation and so far there has not been anywhere near the level of scrutiny needed.

"I hope the findings of the HSE and inquest reports will give some measure of comfort to Praveen Halappanavar and Savita's extended family and that all the lessons to be learned will be implemented," she concluded.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Ireland, which has been vocal in the wider debate surrounding abortion legislation, did not respond to a request for comment on the HSE report this evening.