"I hope other women's lives will be saved" - partner of Blessington resident who died a week after giving birth
The partner of a Blessington resident who died a week after giving birth said he hopes recommendations at her inquest help to save the lives of other women.
A jury in the inquest of tragic Karen McEvoy, aged 24, today today returned a verdict of medical misadventure after hearing two days of evidence in Kildare Coroner's Court sitting in Athy.
Ms McEvoy died at Naas Hospital on Christmas Day 2018 - seven days after giving birth to her third child, baby girl Ruby at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin.
However she became ill in the days afterwards and developed maternal sepsis and septic shock secondary to infection.
Several recommentations have also been proposed by the inquest which are intended to better diagnose and treat the symptoms of post natal sepsis in order to help prevent deaths due to sepsis in the future.
Speaking after the inquest verdict at Athy Courthouse, Ms McEvoy's partner Barry Kelly said in a brief statement: "I'm very happy with the verdict and hope that the recommendations will help save the lives of other women in this country."
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection and is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Last November, the Coombe Hospital apologised for the "failings in care" when Ms McEvoy's family settled an action in the High Court.
On December 23, 2018, Ms McEvoy went back to the Coombe Hospital with her baby daughter for routine screening of the baby and it was claimed she relayed her own complaints and was advised to attend the hospital emergency department. She attended the emergency department complaining of severe back and abdominal pain and feeling generally unwell.
It was claimed Ms McEvoy was not admitted to hospital and she was discharged without her condition having been diagnosed.
On Christmas Day, Ms McEvoy’s condition deteriorated and she was taken by ambulance to Naas Hospital just after midday and died before 4pm from multi-organ failure with septicemia due to an infection.
Today was the second day of a two-day inquest held at Kildare Coroner's Court sitting in Athy as suitable facilities had been unavailable for two consecutive days in Naas courthouse.
The inquest had been due to be held in April 2020 but was delayed by two years by the Covid-19 restrictions.
A total of 17 witnesses gave evidence before Coronor Prof Denis Cusack and a jury of two women and five men.
Prof Cusack had told the jury that the inquest is aimed at establishing the facts, but legally, cannot blame or exonerate any party from blame.