The Pro Life Campaign have welcomed the recommendations made by the inquest into the death of Savita 
Halappanavar.
The jury in the inquest returned a unanimous verdict of death by medical misadventure.
In a statement, PLC spokesperson Dr Berry Kiely particularly welcomed the inquest’s call for Guidelines providing clarity for doctors in relation to medical interventions for women in pregnancy.
Dr Kiely said: ““It is now clear from the facts presented at the inquest that a number of what the inquest terms ‘systems failures’ and communications shortcomings significantly delayed the moment at which the medical team recognised the seriousness of her condition and carried out the appropriate medical intervention.”
“It is disturbing,” she said, “that those calling for abortion legislation never point out that no medical evidence whatsoever was heard in the X case.”
After over 2.5 hours of deliberation, the foreman of the jury told Galway West coroner Dr Ciaran MacLoughlin this afternoon it had reached the unanimous verdict of medical misadventure and strongly endorsed his nine suggested recommendations “after much consideration”.
Dr MacLoughlin said this verdict did not mean that deficiencies or systems failures in University Hospital Galway contributed to Ms Halappanavar’s death; these were just findings in relation to the management of her care.
Dr MacLoughlin’s report called for greater clarity as to when a doctor is allowed to intervene to save the life of a woman by carrying out a termination.
The recommendations also said medical doctors who act in good faith but are found to have breached Medical Council guidelines on termination can be subjected to criminal sanctions and face “a path of ignominy and shame”. He said that greater clarity would remove the threat of fear and doubt from the profession as well as reassuring the public.
However, addressing the issue of abortion legislation, he said, “It is not for the court to advise the Oireachtas but they may take cognisance of these proceedings.”