The husband of Savita Halappanavar is suing the HSE for alleged negligence in relation to the death of his wife, Savita, who died in Galway University Hospital last October.

Ms Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when she died last year following a miscarriage, after she was refused a termination during the earlier part of her hospitalisation.

At the coroner's inquest into her death, Ms Halappanavar's consultant said she could not carry out a termination on October 22 or 23 as there was still a foetal heartbeat and at that stage on the balance of probabilities, there did not appear to be a serious risk to the life of the mother.

By lunchtime the next day, Ms Halappanavar's condition had deteriorated and the consultant decided on a termination, but she spontaneously delivered a dead baby girl later that afternoon. However, her condition continued to deteriorate and she died of septicaemia on October 28.

A clinical review of the case by the HSE, which was published last month, found that inadequate assessment and monitoring, failure to offer all management options and non-adherence to clinical guidelines relating to the prompt and effective management of sepsis on the part of University Hospital Galway were all factors that led to the death of Ms Halappanavar.

Solicitors for her family have now issued legal proceedings against the HSE for alleged negligence in her death. Her husband, Praveen, insists that the HSE review does not provide a clear explanation as to why she died.

Mr Halappanavar is expected to meet with the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, next week.