Donegal midwife appeals to HSE to settle case to access vital drug

 

A Donegal midwife who is suing the HSE over being wrongfully accused of malpractice is appealing for her action to be settled to enable her access the potentially life-saving drug Pembro.
Philomena Canning, a native of Glenvar was suspended in 2014 and reinstated the following year, but has not practised midwifery since, despite being cleared of any wrongdoing in four separate expert reports.
She now only has weeks to live and now wants a settlement after previously refusing a settlement.
Ms Canning who was the leading independent midwife and home birth advocate in the State, has terminal ovarian cancer and has only weeks to live.
She hopes she can be granted access to Pembro which is available on the public health system to those suffering with cervical cancer.
According to the Irish Examiner the midwife was suspended in 2014 and reinstated the following year, but has not practised midwifery since, despite being cleared of any wrongdoing in four separate expert reports, two of which were commissioned by the HSE.
The HSE offered to settle her action in 2015 but Ms Canning refused, as she wanted a full court hearing over what she regarded as critical safety issues in midwifery.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Ms Canning said she now wants a settlement to pay for the immunotherapy drug.
She says she does not regret refusing the previous offer, as circumstances were different then and she remains passionate the public should be informed about what she claims are shortcomings in the HSE’s safety record with expectant mothers.