HSE Apologizes to Parents After Misdiagnosis Leads to Tragic Loss

Following the positive test, Price underwent a second ultrasound, which also showed normal results. Nonetheless, she was advised to proceed with Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), with samples sent to a laboratory in Glasgow for analysis. Unfortunately, the rapid results indicated the presence of Trisomy 18. During a consultation on March 11, 2019, Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe, the attending consultant, incorrectly informed Price that her pregnancy was non-viable and that the foetus had a fatal abnormality. Acting on this advice, the couple decided to terminate the pregnancy three days later at the National Maternity Hospital.

The tragedy deepened when subsequent testing revealed that the baby did not, in fact, have Edward’s Syndrome. Following this revelation, Price and Kiely sought a public inquiry into their case, which led to a High Court settlement with the National Maternity Hospital, several consultants from the Merrion Fetal Clinic, and the Glasgow laboratory involved.

In a joint statement after the settlement, the couple articulated that no amount of compensation could alleviate the “interminable sadness and grief” they endure daily. They underscored the importance of accountability in healthcare and the need for processes that prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

In response to the couple’s experience, Gloster announced an independent external review of the case to thoroughly investigate the care provided and identify areas for improvement within the HSE’s services. He assured that the review would be conducted by an appropriately qualified individual with relevant expertise, and he has already informed the team at the National Maternity Hospital about this decision.

“I hope the establishment of an independent review will allow us to understand what went wrong in relation to their care and learn from it,” Gloster added. This commitment aims to ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the future, providing hope for improved practices and patient care within the health service.