Malak's Husband Meets Health Minister

26.07.2017

The husband of the late Malak Thawley, who died during emergency surgery at the National Maternity Hospital last year, has made a breakthrough in his fight to have an independent inquiry into her death.

It follows a constructive meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris who has asked former Rotunda Hospital master Peter McKenna to carry out an assessment of the inquest and internal report into her death. This report will be finalised within weeks and given to Mr Thawley.

It will be his decision if he wants to proceed with an external investigation which would involve a team of specialists from outside the country. Mr Thawley’s solicitor Caoimhe Haughey said the Minister outlined the process for a review he has set in train.

The review team would include a consultant obstetrician, vascular surgeon and anaesthetist and its members would have no link with Holles Street or the Ireland East Hospital Group. The team would be set up by the recently established National Women & Infants’ Programme Office.

The report will go to Mr Harris and he has agreed to meet with Mr Thawley again very soon. Ms Haughey said that if after the report Mr Thawley is of the view there should be an independent investigation, the minister will accede to that request.

Mr Thawley said he was feeling too emotional to comment. His wife Malak (34) died during emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. A blood vessel was accidentally cut and she suffered a fatal haemorrhage.

RTÉ. July 18. Irish Independent. July 18.