The partner of a woman who lost a Supreme Court challenge to Ireland's assisted suicide laws has described as ludicrous a situation which saw the Health Service Executive look for proof that her condition had not changed.

Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Tom Curran said he received a letter from the HSE.

It asked if circumstances had changed when his partner Marie Fleming, who has multiple sclerosis, was due to have her medical card renewed.

Mr Curran replied to the HSE to let it know that nothing had changed, but was asked to fill in another form detailing Ms Fleming's medical situation.

He then received further correspondence looking for proof of her medical condition.

Mr Curran said he made at least four phone calls in relation to the situation.

He said the amount of time that had been spent and the expense involved in dealing with the situation was ludicrous, and that it should be logged in the system when a person has an illness which was not going to change.

The HSE has said that a review form was issued as part of routine procedures, and that when it was made aware of Ms Fleming's situation it immediately took steps to ensure eligibility for the medical card remained in place.

However Mr Curran said the HSE was not prepared to respond immediately to him.

"They've obviously responded immediately to the media, but they weren't prepared to respond immediately to me.

"I can understand that the rules that have to be in place, but rules need to be human as well. For people in Marie's condition, for people who have illnesses that are not going to get better. Surely the system can log that."

The HSE this evening issued a statement on the incident.

It said: "Medical card eligibility remains in place for the individual.

"As soon as the HSE became aware that the individual has a terminal illness, steps were immediately taken to ensure eligibility remained in place.

"The Medical Card processing centre (PCRS) has a database of over 2 million people and handles over 10,000 pieces of correspondence each week.

"A review form issued as part of routine procedures, which prompted a request for some additional information.

"The HSE regrets any inconvenience the correspondence may have caused."