Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The recommendation is agreed.

No. P00037/24, "Mandate life-saving measures for babies born at 22 weeks in all Irish hospitals", is from Miss Dympna Whelan. It states:

On February 12, 2024, our daughter Bena-Blu was born at just 22 weeks and weighing only 420 grams. Despite the fact that she was alive and kicking, we were told that no life-saving measures would be taken because she hadn't reached the threshold of 23 weeks or weighed in at a minimum of 500 grams. We fought hard for our daughter's life but were denied the chance to save her. My daughter was left to take her last breaths lying on my chest. THE DIFFERENCE OF 80 GRAMS OR 6 DAYS COST ME MY BABYGIRL'S LIFE!!!!! I have witnessed myself babies at her age and less than her weight survive in this country and are now thriving.

The petitioner asks for this action:

To mandate life saving measures for babies born alive and breathing at 22 weeks as my baby was alive for 19 minutes and no saving measures were taken.

As regards action taken by the secretariat at this stage, there has been correspondence on 15 April 2024, 1 May 2024, again on 1 May 2024, twice on 23 May 2024, then on 4 October 2024 and 8 October 2024. The recommendation is that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Health Service Executive for comment within 14 days. Do members have any views?