150. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23962/15]
View answerFirstly, I want to extend my sympathies to the family of the individual concerned on the sad occasion of her death last August.
The Department of Health commissioned two research reports into the practice of symphysiotomy prior to the commencement of the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme. From the information provided it was estimated in 2012 that around 1,500 women had undergone a symphysiotomy in Ireland between 1944 and 1984, but of that number only 350 were still alive. The Scheme commenced on 10 November, 2014 and 577 applications were made to the Assessor for the Scheme, former High Court Judge Maureen Harding Clark.
The Terms of the Scheme included at Section 38 that "the right to seek payment under the terms of the Scheme is personal to the Applicant and is therefore contingent on the Applicant being alive to accept the offer of any award. If therefore, an Applicant dies at any time after application and before she has accepted an award, the claim shall lapse and the Applicant’s estate and her spouse and/or members of her family shall not be entitled to any award or payment under this Scheme."
Regrettably, as the woman concerned was deceased prior to the commencement of the Scheme in November, 2014, the Scheme is not applicable to her case.
