Inadvertent abortions may have occured in Irish hospitals due to scan errors

From www.rte.ie/news

9 June 2010

A mother has said she was told by her gynaecologist at Galway University College Hospital that her unborn baby was dead when it was not.
Martha O'Neill-Brennan from Athenry in Co Galway was told that her unborn baby was dead however, she decided to follow her 'gut instinct' and got a second opinion, which established that her baby was not dead.
Her experience is similar to that of Melissa Redmond from Donabate in Dublin who was wrongly told by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda that the baby she was carrying was dead.
Throughout yesterday a number of women who attended Lourdes Hospital and had been told their baby was dead contacted the Health Service Executive.
As a result, a special helpline has been established in Drogheda, which opened at 9am. The number is 1800-200529.
There is also a general HSE information line: 1850-241 850.
Alternatively, people can contact their local obstetric service.
It has emerged that a number of women have now claimed that they have had similar experiences in other hospitals around the country.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Barry White of the HSE said the introduction of a second mandatory scan would be advisable.
In a statement yesterday, the HSE said on rare occasions a scan will suggest that the pregnancy is lost but subsequent scans show a foetal heartbeat.
It said repeat scanning is undertaken when appropriate.
Fine Gael Health Spokesperson Dr James Reilly TD has called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to carry out a review antenatal services.
Dr Reilly added: 'It is very clear that best practice and common sense would dictate that in cases of such gravity, where the life of an unborn infant may be terminated inadvertently, that a second examination should always take place without the patient having to request it.'