CONSULTANT OBSTETRICIAN TO BE QUESTIONED AT DAY THREE OF SAVITA INQUEST
Savita Halappanavar's inquest continues today with further evidence from a consultant who treated the 31 year old at UHG where she died following a miscarriage.
Dr Katherine Astbury is expected to deny a claim by Savita's husband Praveen that she informed the couple the pregnancy could not be terminated because Ireland is a Catholic country.
Dr Astbury read her statement at the close of day two of the inquest yesterday.
Her deposition detailed her dealings with Ms. Halapannavar from a routine anti-natal visit to her hospitalisation later in October last year.
She said on one occasion Savita was very upset and enquired about the possibility of medication to cause her to miscarry.
She advised her that the legal position in Ireland did not allow her to terminate the pregnancy at that stage.
She also said that on Wednesday October 24th after her condition deteriorated, she had sought a second opinion from a colleague Dr.Geraldine Gaffney .
Ms. Astbury outlined to her colleague the clinical situation and said Ms Halapannavar needed a termination regardless of the foetal heart.
Up to four witness statements are expected to be heard from hospital personnel today.
The inquest resumes at 10 before Coroner Dr. Ciaran MacLoughlin.