HSE Issues Apology After Couple Ends Pregnancy Due to Misleading Fatal Foetal Abnormality Diagnosis

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has announced plans for an independent review regarding the tragic case of a couple who ended their pregnancy in 2019 based on a false diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality. HSE CEO Bernard Gloster publicly apologized to Rebecca Price and Pat Kiely, who lost their baby, Christopher, following the incorrect medical advice.

Background of the Case

Rebecca Price and Pat Kiely were excited to become parents, having received positive news on Christmas Eve 2018. However, their journey took a heartbreaking turn in early 2019 when a series of medical tests indicated potentially severe issues with their unborn child.

Medical Misdiagnosis

• Initially, a routine ultrasound in February 2019 showed a healthy fetus.
• A subsequent non-invasive prenatal test indicated a risk of Trisomy 18, also known as Edward’s Syndrome, a rare condition leading to decreased baby survival rates.
• Although a second ultrasound appeared normal, further testing suggested a positive result for Trisomy 18.

On March 11, 2019, during a consultation, the couple received distressing news. Their consultant, Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe, informed them of the non-viability of the pregnancy and urged them to terminate it. This advice was followed with a termination three days later at the National Maternity Hospital.

Outcomes and Apologies

Subsequent tests later revealed that their baby had not been diagnosed with Edward’s Syndrome, prompting Ms. Price and Mr. Kiely to seek justice for their ordeal. In 2021, they called for a public inquiry and settled a High Court case involving multiple medical professionals and a laboratory associated with their case.

Planned Independent Review

In light of this tragedy, HSE CEO Bernard Gloster announced the initiation of an independent external review to assess the circumstances surrounding the couple’s medical care. The review aims to identify what went wrong and implement necessary improvements across health services.

• Gloster emphasized the need for clear documentation of the couple’s experience.
• He expressed hope that the review would shed light on the failures in their care.
• The establishment of this independent review was communicated to the National Maternity Hospital to ensure cooperation.

While Gloster acknowledged that no actions could alleviate the couple’s profound grief, he reiterated the importance of addressing the systemic failures that contributed to this heartbreaking incident. The HSE aims to learn from this case to prevent similar tragedies in the future.