Jury to resume deliberations in Savita inquest
A verdict is expected this afternoon at the final day of the inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar.
The 31 year old dentist died at UHG last October following a miscarriage.
Galway bay fm news reports the jury has now broken for lunch and will resume its deliberations at 2 this afternoon.
The 11 person jury retired at 11.15 this morning to consider its verdict and adjourned for lunch at12.50.
It was after Coroner Dr. Ciaran MacLoughlin read his summary of the evidence heard over seven days.
The jury has been charged with two verdicts to consider - that of a narrative verdict and that ofmedical misadventure.
The Coroner explained that the narrative verdict is a finding of fact in accordance with the medicalevidence heard.
The second is a possible verdict of medical misadventure.
Dr. MacLoughlin explained this verdict may be considered if the jury feels there were any systemicfailures or deficiencies in her medical management.
He told the jury that this verdict has no inference or imposition of civil or criminal liability.
He went on to explain that the inquest verdict does not impose a criminal or civil liability on anyperson or party and that this is a fact finding exercise in accordance with Section 30 of the Act.
The Coroner also made nine recommendations should the jury return a verdict of misadventure.
These include certain protocols on sepsis management, the adoption of a modified early warning scorechart by all hospitals and the separation of medical and nursing notes.
The jury was told that it may reject them, accept them or add to them but that any suchrecommendations must be in accordance with Section 30 of the Act.