Cover up, denial, secrecy, bureaucracy, non-accountability, endangering life, corporate arrogance, corporate ruthlessness, political weakness, political cowardice.
This is the first paragraph of a piece I posted in May 2007 regarding the disgraceful treatment of Rebecca O’Malley by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Mrs. O’Malley was told that a lump on her breast was benign but it turned out to be malignant.
The error cost her 14 months in wasted time. She had to have a mastectomy that probably would not have been necessary if that time had not been wasted.
It turned out that 300 other women had also been misdiagnosed but the HSE had decided not to inform them thus putting their lives in danger.
When Mrs. O’Malley expressed concern she was urged by the HSE not to go public.
She agreed on condition that an independent investigation be initiated. The HSE were lying, nothing was done.
The failure of the HSE to act forced Mrs. O’Malley to assume responsibility for the endangered women. She successfully forced the HSE to act by going public.
Five years on Praveen Halapanavar, husband of Savita Halapanavar, was asked why he had gone public after his wife died.
Because there was nothing happening after two weeks.
Mr. Halapanavar has assumed responsibility for dealing with this disgraceful scandal because the Irish State has effectively refused to do so.
Again I say wait and hear the full story as to what happened—then let us comment