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Doctor Negligence

Experts Dissatisfied with New Scheme for Symphysiotomy Claims

Experts and public figures have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s newly launched scheme for women making  symphysiotomy claims.

The government has recently launched a scheme to help women claim symphysiotomy compensation. The compensation is for operations performed between 1940 and 1980 on the women without them providing adequate consent. It is estimated that nearly three hundred and fifty women are able to apply for the scheme. The scheme follows after the government changed its stance extending the Statute of Limitations such that women who had unknowingly undergone the procedure during labour could claim compensation.

The symphysiotomy compensation scheme works on a three-tier basis, based on the severity of the injuries that the women sustained. Those who did not sustain any long-term damage are entitled to claim €50,000. Women who sustained a recorded disability because of the procedure can claim €100,000, and those who had previously had a Caesarean Section, and then had a symphysiotomy performed upon them can receive €150,000.

Maureen Harding-Clark, a former High Court judge has been appointed by the government to oversee each claim. The deadline by which the claims must be submitted is December 5th of this year. However, this deadline can be extended by a further twenty days should Judge Harding-Clark deem the case exceptional.

Claimants have another twenty days to accept any offer of compensation after an offer has been made. However, to do this, any action against the state must first be withdrawn by the claimant.

There are presently over one-hundred-and-fifty High Court actions for symphysiotomy claims on progress. However, dates for only two of the hearings have been confirmed. Marie O’Connor, head of Survivors of Symphysiotomy, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the new scheme as the time limit makes it “impossible for women to seek independent advice and to make a considered decision”.

The Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Mark Kelly, is also dissatisfied with the scheme. He claims that it contradicts the state’s obligations to human rights by not addressing compensation needs for each individual and treating them on this tiered basis. Additionally, the compensation is being paid out without any admission by the state of their liability and without an apology being offered to the women affected.

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Teenager Wins Compensation in Birth Negligence Case

A teenager who has been left severely disabled due to negligence surrounding his birth has been awarded compensation by the Dublin High Court.

In November 2001, James McCarthy of Clonmel, County Tipperary was born at St Joseph’s hospital at thirty-three weeks. A scan revealed that his twin brother had died in the womb, and therefore James was delivered by emergency Caesarean section. The baby boy was born with severe disabilities. When he was one year old, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

On behalf of their son, James Cooney and Linda McCarthy sought legal counsel. They made an injury compensation claim the consultant obstetrician Dr Raymond Howard, who was working at St Joseph’s Hospital and who had been in charge of Linda’s care during the later stages of her pregnancy with James.

In the claim, Linda stated that she had been referred to St Joseph’s Hospital for ante natal care and was seen by Dr Howard’s registrar. A scan was conducted and the registrar showed concern over the results. The registrar wanted to admit Linda to hospital immediately for further observation and in concern for the twins.

However, despite the concern, Dr Howard dismissed his registrar’s opinion and told Linda that she was to return to him a week later. She returned, and another scan was taken. This scan revealed that one of the twins that she was carrying had died during that time. This prompted them to deliver James by Caesarean Section immediately. Due to the trauma that James suffered in the womb, he is dependant on his parents for life. He is unable to walk, talk or  even sit up by himself.

Although Dr Howard was her obstetrician, the first time that Linda had actually met was the day after her son had been delivered. She alleged that neither her health not her son’s had been investigated, monitored, diagnosed or treated in an adequate or competent manner in the latter part of her pregnancy. She further claimed that James’ injuries could have been avoided in the doctor had taken greater care.

Dr Howard admitted liability for the young boy’s injuries. As the case was made on behalf of a minor, the case needed to be heard at the Dublin High Court so that a judge could approve the settlement of compensation. Mr Justice Kevin Cross oversaw proceedings, and was informed that an interim settlement of compensation of €2.75 million had been agreed upon by the two parties.

The judge approved this settlement, and adjourned the case for a further three years so that an investigation into James’ future needs could be completed and further settlements of compensation could be calculated.

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Beaumont Hospital Faces Growing Overcrowding Issue

Beaumont Hospital is facing an ever-growing overcrowding issue, due to part to reduction in services at nearby facilities.

Beaumont Hospital Chief Executive Liam Duffy has recently made comments to hospital staff warning them of safety issues at the Dublin hospital and stating that the hospital must regain its stability as a matter of urgency. The comments were communicated to staff via an email circulated to all members of the hospital. In the email, he described the conditions at the hospital as “unsafe” for all those involved. He further pointed out that on the day writing the email in August, there were 58 patients waiting to be discharged at the hospital. This figured included one patient who had been waiting in the Emergency Department for 44 hours.

Mr Duffy blamed the deteriorating state of care at the hospital to an acute shortage of beds caused by patients who are sufficiently fit for discharge, but who are waiting for nursing home beds to become available. The demand for beds resulted in the hospital recording 2,433 occasions during 2013 on which patients were attended to on trolleys. This is the highest figure for any hospital in the country. He further mentioned that, although the lack of beds was of extreme concern, the safety issues at the Dublin hospital were “not confined to a shortage of beds”.

The former Clinical Director of the Beaumont Hospital – Professor Shane O´Neill – resigned in April from his position at the hospital over his concern for patient safety. He said in a public letter of resignation that the volume of psychiatric patients in the overcrowded Emergency department was “entirely unsafe and indefensible”. Professor O´Neill called for the establishment of a dedicated psychiatric assessment area for patients who were suicidal or suffering from extreme psychiatric episodes.

The accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital is one of the busiest in the country. This is in part due to a reduction of services at the nearby Navan, Dundalk, Blanchardstown and Drogheda Hospitals. In 2013, nearly 52,000 patients attended the Emergency department and the indications are that that figure is set to rise by the end of 2014.

In August 2011, nurses at the hospital took industrial action to highlight safety issues at the Dublin hospital. At the beginning of 2014, the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation released figures which showed Beaumont Hospital to be the most over-crowded in Ireland. They are calling on the government to act on these figures, both for patient welfare and their own.

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Widower Receives Compensation for Wife’s Avoidable Death

A widower has received a six-figure settlement from the HSE as compensation for his wife’s avoidable death.

In 2006, Helen Malone, originally from Carlow, died at St Luke´s General Hospital in Kilkenny. Her death came just four days after she had undergone surgery on her bowel. The operation had been delayed several times before she finally received the medical attention which she required. An inquest into her death was launched, which revealed that Helen died due to systemic sepsis and multiple organ failure. It was revealed that her injuries were caused by a perforated bowel. The experts conducting the investigation suggested that had the operation on her bowel been performed sooner, there was a strong likelihood that Helen would have survived.

Her widower, Patrick, made a claim for compensation for delayed surgery which resulted in a fatal injury. He claimed in his action against St Luke´s General Hospital, consultant surgeon George Nessim and the HSE. He further stated that the avoidable nature of Helen´s death had caused him and Helen´s six adult children great mental distress.

In 2009, the Irish Medical Council found Dr Nessim guilty on four counts of professional misconduct in relation to Helen´s death. In spite of Dr Nessim’s conviction, the HSE refused to acknowledged liability for failing to meet the appropriate standard of care. Patrick was issued permission to pursue his case in court.

The case was postponed on five different occasions before it was  heard by Mr Justice Ryan at the High Court. At the hearing, Judge Ryan was told that a settlement of compensation for the delayed surgery which resulted in fatal injury to Helen had been negotiated between the parties. The final settlement amounted to €165,000. The judge was also informed that as a condition of the settlement, the HSE had to read an apology to the family acknowledging that the standard of care afforded to Helen was sub-standard and led to a series of events which caused her untimely death.

After hearing the apology read to the family, Judge Ryan approved the compensation settlement .He wished the family well, and commended both sides for settling “a difficult, painful and tragic case”.

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Family Return to Court to Receive Second Interim Payment

The family of a boy suffering from cerebral palsy has returned to court to have their second interim payment of compensation approved.

In February 2006, Luke Miggin from Athboy in County Meath was born at the Mullingar General Hospital. Due to mismanagement of his birth, Luke was deprived of oxygen in the womb. After he was born, Luke had to be resuscitated by medical staff on hand. He was immediately transferred to a special care baby unit. Luke was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He is reliant on full time care from his parents, and has difficulty which even small physical tasks.

On behalf of her son, Emily Miggin sought legal counsel. She made a claim for cerebral palsy compensation against the HSE. In her claim, she alleged that her consultant- Dr Michael Gannon-had failed to act on CTG traces taken throughout the day, which indicated a deceleration of the foetal heart rate.

In 2010, the Health Service Executive admitted their liability for Luke´s birth injuries. In January the following year, an interim compensation payment for cerebral palsy amounting to €1.35 million was offered to the family. As the case was made on behalf of a minor, the settlement needed to be taken to the High Court to be approved by a judge. It was later approved by Mr Justice John Quirke.

Judge Quirke adjourned the case for three years to allow time for a structured settlement system to be introduced. The government has since failed to set up such a system of periodic payments. Emily Miggin returned to the High Court to have a second interim compensation payment for cerebral palsy approved by Ms Justice Mary Irvine.

Judge Irvine apologised to Emily for successive Justice Ministers who had failed to keep their promises to introduce a system of periodic payments, and said that ongoing litigation was preventing her family from getting on their lives.

The judge approved a further €580,000 interim compensation payment for cerebral palsy and adjourned Luke´s case for a further three years.

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Judge Rules that Case Against HSE for Wrongful Death Should Proceed to Court

A High Court judge has ruled that a case made against the HSE for a wrongful death should proceed to a full court case, in spite of the HSE’s claim that the claim was made outside of the period of the Statute of Limitations.

In 2001, Dolores Hewitt was declared healthy after battling with breast cancer for several years. She regularly returned to Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, Co. Meath to undergo monitoring. In 2007, at one of these routine checkups, two cancerous legions were discovered on her liver.

The scan results were not immediately acted upon by medical staff at the hospital. Dolores only met with a surgeon five months after the scans were taken to discuss the results. Dolores´ conversation with the surgeon prompted further ultrasound scans to be conducted, and further lesions were discovered on Dolores´ liver. Dolores started undergoing treatment for cancer once again. However, due to the failure of medical staff to act promptly to the results of the scan, the condition had progressed too far to respond to the treatment. Dolores died in June 2010.

Dolores’ widower, Joseph, sought legal counsel. He made a claim for wrongful death due to a failure to act on scan results against Our Lady´s Hospital and the Health Service Executive (HSE). He alleged in his action that, had Our Lady´s Hospital acted on Dolores´ scan results within a reasonable period of time in February 2007,  her wrongful death would have been avoided.

Our Lady´s Hospital and the HSE contested the claim for wrongful death due to a failure to act on scan results. They argued that Joseph´s allegations were founded on Dolores´ treatment in 2007, and that his claim for hospital negligence made in 2012 was outside the two-year period Statute of Limitations. This regulation on the time period in which you are allowed to make a personal injury claim was established by the Civil Liability Act of 1961.

The HSE applied to the courts for the claim for wrongful death due to a failure to act on scan results to be dismissed. Joseph´s legal team advised him to oppose the application. Ms Justice Marie Baker heard the case for dismissal at the High Court.

Ms Justice Marie Baker agreed with the HSE´s argument that the time period had expired for claiming compensation for hospital negligence that allegedly occurred in 2007. However, the judge said that Joseph´s the claim for wrongful death due to a failure to act on scan results, related to the death of his wife in June 2010, and therefore his January 2012 claim was still within the period of time allowed by the Statute of Limitations.

She dismissed the HSE’s case, and wished Joseph well in future court proceedings.

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Special Olympics Athlete Receives Compensation for Missed Diagnosis of Knee Fracture

A Special Olympics athlete whose career was cut short has received compensation for a missed diagnosis of a fractured knee, which rendered her unable to compete in the games.

Amy Rose McGowan (31) from Trim in County Meath made her claim for the missed diagnosis of a broken knee following an incident in 2009. Amy, a keen athlete who was training for the Special Olympics, had fallen and hurt her knee during a 50 metre sprint race. She received emergency medical attention on site, and was taken to Our Lady´s Hospital for a precautionary x-ray on May 8th 2009. An x-ray of the region was taken, and further medical procedures followed. However, doctors overlooked the depressed fracture and diagnosed Amy´s injury as soft tissue damage.

Amy continued to experience pain in her knee long after the soft tissue damage should have healed. Months after the initial fall, she attended her GP to seek further medial attention. It was only then that the fracture was discovered. Unfortunately for Amy, it was too late for operative or corrective intervention. She missed her opportunity to qualify for the Olympics. It is likely that Amy will also need to have knee replacement surgery later in life due to the failure to properly treat the injury at the time it occurred.

Amy sought legal counsel, and made a claim for the missed diagnosis of a broken knee. An investigation was launched into the circumstances of her treatment, and after the investigation at Our Lady´s Hospital was complete,  the Health Service Executive admitted liability for her injuries. A settlement of €142,000 was agreed upon as suitable by the two legal teams. However, before Amy could receive the compensation, it first be had to approved in the High Court to ensure that it was in Amy’s best interests.

In the High Court, Judge Peart heard how Amy had previously won 34 medals and 10 trophies in the area of athletics and swimming before the accident. He said he was “very impressed and full of admiration” for her and that it was a pity that her athletics career had been cut short.

The judge approved the settlement of compensation for the missed diagnosis of a broken knee and wished Amy a happy life with her family before adjourning the hearing.

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Disabled Man Receives Compensation for Mismanaged Birth

A man has received compensation from the HSE for his mismanaged birth with left him severely disabled.

In late December 1983, Stephen Ryan-now third years of age-was born at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin to  Linda Ryan. His mother had been admitted to hospital the previous day following the spontaneous onset of labour. She had a history of reduced foetal movement in the pregnancy.

Linda had previously been admitted for five days between 12th December and 17th December because of her condition. She was discharged as healthy and at low risk of complications by medical staff. Linda later alleged that she was discharged without any proper assessment of the risks associated with prolonging the pregnancy being conducted either while she was in hospital or up to the delivery of her son.

As a result of the prolonged pregnancy, Stephen was deprived of oxygen in the womb. He was born severely brain damaged. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He is severely and permanently mentally and physically disabled, and relies upon 24 hour care from his parents. He will rely on constant care and supervision for the rest of his life.

In 2002, on behalf of her son, Linda sought legal counsel. She made a claim for compensation for a mismanaged pregnancy against the HSE. She alleged that the National Maternity Hospital failed in their duty of care. Had they acted in an appropriate and competent manner, Stephen would have been born sooner and the terrible birth injuries he sustained could have been avoided.

The National Maternity Hospital denied their liability for Stephen´s birth injuries up until the beginning of this year. The two legal teams entered negotiations, and a settlement of €6 million compensation for a mismanaged pregnancy was agreed upon. The HSE made this offer without an admission of liability.

The offer of compensation had to be approved by the High Court to ensure that it was in Stephen’s best interests. The settlement was approved at the High Court by Ms Justice Mary Irvine. The judge said that it had been a long struggle for Stephen´s parents, and she praised the Ryans for the care and attention they had provided for their son in his home environment until he was twenty-four years of age.

Stephen now lives in a residential care unit. Stephen´s parents made a statement saying that they hope this settlement of compensation for a mismanaged pregnancy will enable him to live in his own home with a care package suited to his specific requirements.

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Proposals for Symphysiotomy Compensation Procedures to Be Announced Later this Month

Judge Yvonne Murphy is due to announce her proposals for symphysiotomy compensation procedures to cabinet later this month.

Judge Yvonne Murphy´s recently compiled proposals for symphysiotomy compensation settlements are due to be heard by the Cabinet within the next few weeks. Before their announcement, expert opinion is divided over whether they are beneficial to the survivors of the controversial childbirth procedure.

Judge Murphy was asked by the relevant government bodies to compile proposals for symphysiotomy compensation settlements last year. The request came after the Government withdrew their support for a cross-party private members’ bill that would have provided a window in the Statute of Limitations to allow the survivors to make their claims for symphysiotomy through the court system.

Due to potential legal challenges from insurance companies involved in the case, the Government is looking to introduce an ex-gratia scheme of symphysiotomy compensation settlements for survivors. This is a similar arrangement to that agreed with the former residents of Magdalene laundries. The as around 80 percent of the procedures were performed in private hospitals, the proposals will require support from the insurance industry.

Symphysiotomy survivors are divided on whether the proposed symphysiotomy compensation settlements are appropriate for the degree of suffering they endured. Several hundred Magdalene claimants received payments ranging from €11,500 to €100,000. Much is still now known about how the awarding of symphysiotomy compensation will work. It may be paid out in instalments or in a single lump sum, and the estates of deceased women may or may not be entitled for compensation.

Some survivors of the symphysiotomy procedure have indicated they would accept payments similar to the Magdalene laundry settlements with no admission of liability from the State. However, members of the Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SOS) group say that compensation settlements should be more in line with the award of €591,297 that was made to Tracy Nelson in a court hearing last year.

Spokesperson for the SOS group – Marie O´Connor – said “It’s not unreasonable to insist that cases are treated as medical negligence. These women have lifetimes of suffering and lost opportunities behind them. Whether it was horse-riding, gymnastics or gardening, they could never do it again”.

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HSE Found Negligent in Delay to Treat Post-Surgical Bleeding Case

The HSE has been found negligent in a claim for compensation for post-surgical bleeding, after a judge ruled that the delay in the patient receiving care was unreasonable.

Honey Larkin (42) from Letterkenny delivered her child by Caesarean section at the Letterkenny General Hospital in January 2008. Following her operation, she began to haemorrhage internally. In spite of showing signs of distress, her symptoms were overlooked by the hospital´s staff. Honey alleges that she had a “near-death” experience due to losing more than half of her blood volume while haemorrhaging. She had a second operation to stop the bleeding, but it had been delayed for more than an hour when her condition was finally acknowledged by medical staff.

Honey sought legal counsel, and made a claim against consultant gynaecologist Eddie Aboud and the Health Service Executive (HSE). In the action, she said that she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to medical negligence. Honey also stated in her action that neither the staff at the hospital nor her gynaecologist checked for signs of bleeding after the initial surgery, and that – when the cause of her distress was identified – there was a failure to attach due significance to the bleeding or act appropriately within a reasonable timeframe.

Both Mr Aboud and the HSE contested Honey´s claim for compensation for medical negligence after a Caesarean birth. They argued that she was treated appropriately throughout and after the birth of her child. Furthermore, they stated that the staff had acted in a timely manner once her internal bleeding had been recognised. However, Honey persisted with her compensation claim for medical negligence after a Caesarean.

In the High Court hearing, Judge Kevin Cross was told that no internal bleeding had been apparent when Mr Aboud had finished the childbirth procedure. Furthermore, when the gynaecologist was called back to attend to Honey, he performed the operation quickly and successfully to stop the haemorrhaging. Judge Cross said he believed that Mr Aboud could not be held responsible for any of the trauma suffered by Honey and dismissed from the case.

The judge then considered whether the case against the HSE should be dismissed. He considered the evidence in relation to the delay Honey experienced once the haemorrhaging had been identified, and he found that the Letterkenny General Hospital failed in their duty of care towards Honey, and ordered that the HSE pay her €25,000 compensation for medical negligence after her Caesarean operation.

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Family Receive Compensation for Wrongful Death of Family Member Due to Dehydration

The family of a woman who wrongfully died in the care of the HSE due to  her dehydration not being properly treated has been awarded compensation in the High Court.

In 2010, Eileen Brady (65) had been admitted to the Cavan General Hospital. Easier that day, she had visited her GP after complaining of mouth ulcers. Her GP had diagnosed that her mouth ulcers were attributable to a poor fluid intake, and referred her to seek emergency medical attention at the hospital. 

At the time of admittance to Cavan General Hospital, Eileen was already undergoing chemotherapy in Dublin for stomach cancer. Due to her veins collapsing as a result of chemotherapy, the dehydration treatment she received at Cavan General Hospital was ineffective. She died the day after being admitted to hospital.

An investigation was launched into Eileen’s death. A report concluded that medical experts determined that Eileen´s death due to organ failure. Furthermore, the experts said that the death could have been prevented had medical staff at the hospital paid closer attention to Eileen´s medical chart. They also noted that had medical staff consulted senior doctors when Eileen´s condition continued to deteriorate, or spoken with specialists in Dublin who were treating Eileen for cancer, Eileen would have received better care.

Following the investigation, Eileen´s son – Martin Brady from Crosskeys in County Cavan – sought legal counsel and made a medical negligence dehydration claim for compensation against the Cavan General Hospital and HSE. He alleged that he and other members of the Brady family had suffered mental distress due to their mother´s tragic and avoidable death.

The HSE admitted liability, and the medical negligence dehydration claim was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. However, as part of the settlement, the family wanted a public apology read to them in court. Consequently, at the High Court in Dublin, Ms Justice Mary Irvine instructed barristers representing the HSE to read the apology.

The statement said that the hospital and HSE apologised for the failings in their duty of care which resulted in Eileen´s death, and the grief and stress that had been suffered by her family and friends as a result. Responding on behalf of the family, Aidan Brady said he hoped both Cavan General Hospital and the HSE had learned from “the grave mistakes” made in the care of his mother. After the statements were read, Ms Justice Mary Irvine extended her personal sympathy to Eileen´s family and wished them well for the future.

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RTE Program Reveals Negligence at the Midland Regional Hospital

Dr Philip Crowley´s has made an apology was prior to the broadcasting of RTE´s Prime Time “Fatal Failures” program. The program is an exposé of the failings in care at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise which resulted in the avoidable deaths of four babies during the last six years.

Acting as the National Director of Quality & Patient Safety at the Health Service Executive,Dr Philip Crowley has made a public apology to four families whose babies died due to childbirth medical negligence at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Two of the parents featured on the program are Roisin and Mark Molloy from Tullamore in County Offaly. Their son, Mark, was born at the hospital in January 2012. However, he died shortly after his delivery a consequence of suffering from foetal hypoxia in the womb. The couple had to battle with the hospital for four months before it was conceded that Mark had a heartbeat when he was born. It was only then that an investigation into his death was initiated.

Even then, it took a further twenty months to conclude the investigation – a delay which was described by Dr Crowley as “lamentable” – which ultimately reported that “failures in the standard of care provided were casually linked to the foetal hypoxia damage that occurred”. The report recommended a number of actions to prevent the same mistakes happening again.

However, a short time later, Roisin Molloy was listening to the radio when she heard Shauna Keyes recount how her son – Joshua – had died soon after his birth at the Midland General Hospital. The circumstances surrounding the birth of both of her children was startlingly similar. The two women got in touch with each other and RTE´s Investigation Unit picked up the story.

The RTE Investigation Unit discovered there were at least two further incidents of babies dying after birth due to childbirth medical negligence. Both of which had been investigated internally at the hospital, but the results of the investigations never delivered to the grieving parents. The RTE investigators also disclosed that none of the recommended measures following baby Mark Molloy´s death had been implemented and, if they had, all three of the childbirth fatalities could have been avoided.

Appearing in the program, Dr Philip Crowley apologised “unequivocally” to the parents who had lost children due to childbirth medical negligence and, appearing on the radio show Today, the Minister for Health – Dr James Reilly – also commented that the level of service provided at the Midland Hospital in Portlaoise was “utterly unacceptable”. The Minister said that he had asked the Chief Medical Officer to conduct a further investigation into the failings of care at the hospital.

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HSE Accepts Liability for Wrongful Death of Mother due to Pre-Eclampsia

The HSE had accepted liability for the wrongful death of a new mother due to preventable pre-eclampsia.

In September 2010, Dhara Kivlehan (29) was admitted to Sligo General Hospital for the delivery of her first child. She had been experiencing painless contractions for two days before attending the facility. Dhara was two weeks passed her due date. Upon initial medical examination, she was diagnosed with signs of pre-eclampsia, including high blood pressure and fluid retention around her ankles (also known as oedema).

A blood test was taken to secure the diagnosis. The results showed that she had abnormal kidney and liver function, which are also symptoms of pre-eclampsia.  In spite of the risks to the unborn child, no action was taken due the results of the blood tests not being communicated to Dhara´s doctors for twelve hours. The morning following her admission, Dhara gave birth to her son -Dior – by Caesarean Section and was transferred to a side room off of the main Maternity Ward.

While Dhara was in the side room, her condition started to deteriorate. However, medical staff did not transfer to Intensive Care Unit at Sligo General Hospital until 4.45pm the following day. At 11.00pm that evening, Dhara´s condition became critical and she was air-lifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast to receive specialist treatment.

In spite of medical intervention, Dhara died four days later due to multiple organ failure secondary to HELLP syndrome – a variant of pre-eclampsia. As yet, both the Belfast coroner and the Sligo coroner have declined requests to conduct a post-mortem.

Dhara´s husband – Michael – believing that the symptoms of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low latelet count were not identified and treated in time to prevent his wife´s death, sought legal counsel. He made a compensation claim for fatal hospital errors against the Health Service Executive (HSE) – alleging that the Sligo general Hospital had breached its duty of care and that the care provided for Dhara once she had given birth to Dior was negligent.

The HSE denied liability for Dhara’s death, stating that there had not been a failure in the duty of care by Sligo General Hospital in the treatment that Dhara had received. In spite of their denial, Michael persevered with his claim, and a court hearing was scheduled to determine whether the HSE had a case to answer.

Shortly before the claim for fatal hospital errors was due to be presented in court, the HSE acknowledged that there had been shortcomings in the care provided for Dhara both before and after the birth of her son, and an €800,000 settlement of compensation for fatal hospital errors was negotiated.

The case was heard at the High Court in Dublin. A representative of the HSE  read a statement which apologised unreservedly for the errors that had been made which led to Dhara´s death and offered their condolences to Michael and Dior.

Following the apology, Ms Justice Mary Irvine approved the settlement of compensation for fatal hospital errors, and also used the opportunity to criticise the HSE for “holding out until almost the bitter end” before admitting liability, and consequently causing the Kivlehan family unnecessary distress.

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Teenager Receives Interim Settlement of Compensation for Birth Injuries

A teenager has received an interim settlement of compensation for birth injuries she sustained which left her permanently disabled.

In November 2001, Mary Conroy attended the Midland Regional Hospital in Portloaise believing that her waters had broken and that she was about to give birth to her first child. After consulting medical staff at the facility, Mary was sent home after being reassured that everything was fine. However,  three days later she attended the clinic of her private consultant obstetrician – Dr John Corristine – and, following an ultrasound, Mary insisted she be admitted into hospital.

Mary was admitted to the Midland Regional Hospital. Medical staff performed a CTG scan, which failed to pick up any signs of contractions. Mary was advised to take a bath – however insufficient hot water was available at the hospital in order for her to do so. Dr Corristine then prescribed medicine that should induce labour, and Mary was discharged from the hospital. The consultant subsequently failed to return during Mary´s labour or when she gave birth to her daughter.

Roisin was born the following morning, but suffered seizures soon after her birth. She was transferred to a hospital in Dublin with more suitable neo-natal facilities to receive specialist attention. However, Roisin´s condition failed to improve and she was diagnosed with suffering from severe disabilities. These were later diagnosed as dyskinetic cerebral palsy. She has been left permanently disabled, and relies on eye movement for all of her communication.

Mary blamed herself for Roisin´s devastating birth injuries, and insisted on having two further children delivered by Caesarean Section. Both she and her husband Kevin gave up their jobs to care for Roisin. In relation to Roisin’s condition, the hospital had told them that nothing could have been done to prevent the tragedy and that they were “just unlucky”.

However, after speaking with a solicitor, an investigation was launched into the events prior to Roisin´s birth. Following the legal advice of their solicitor, the couple made a claim for dyskinetic cerebral palsy compensation against the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Dr Corristine.  Both defendants denied their liability for Roisin´s injuries for almost two years. They maintained their position until five weeks before a court hearing was due to take place, at which point both the hospital and Dr Corristine admitted that mistakes had been made in the management of Mary´s pregnancy.

An interim settlement of dyskinetic cerebral palsy compensation amounting to €2.3 million was negotiated between the legal teams. However, as the compensation was being offered to a child, it needed to be approved at the High Court in Dublin to ensure that it was in her best interests.  The case was heard by Ms Justice Mary Irvine, and the settlement was approved.

At the hearing,   an apology was read to the family by an HSE representative and Dr Corristine. Ms Justice Mary Irvine then adjourned the case for two years so that a study of Roisin´s future needs can be made and to allow time for legislation to be passed allowing a structured compensation payment system.

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Recipients of Faulty PIP Breast Implants to Receive Compensation

The recipients of faulty PIP breast implants-which have been known to rupture and leak-will receive compensation from TUV Rheinland.

A French court has ordered German safety company TUV Rheinland to pay upward of 17,000 women compensation for PIP breast implants which were manufactured by the bankrupt company Poly-Implant-Prothese.

The class action against the German company – which certified the safety of the PIP implants – has been several years in the making, and is one of the largest of its kind. IT was brought on the basis that TUV Rheinland had a responsibility to check the quality of the implants before issuing Poly-Implant-Prothese with a guarantee that they conformed to European standards. However, the class action alleged that TUV Rheinland had been negligent in their duty and no such checks were made. Therefore, Poly-Implant-Prothese substituted a low grade of industrial silicone in place of the Europe-approved type in order to reduce manufacturing costs and maximise profit.

A French study revealed that nearly 25% of PIP breast implants burst or leaked. Some of these incidents have caused medical complications when the silicone gel secreted into the victims´ lymph nodes, and one woman in France is known to have died due to anaplastic large cell lymphoma. No long-term side effects have yet been confirmed, and experts believe that it may be many years before the full effect of the faulty PIP breast implants is known.

TUV Rheinland’s legal team argued in court that the company was a victim of fraud. They state that TUV Rheinland’s only responsibility was to audit Poly-Implant-Prothese´s paperwork, and not check the safety of the implants themselves. However, solicitors representing the claimants said that TUV Rheinland failed to do its job properly and gave “global credibility” to a product which did not deserve it. It also emerged in court that the employee in charge of quality control had only a cookery diploma, while another in charge of the laboratory had previously trained as a pastry chef, and therefore were not qualified to perform the tasks required of them.

After hearing evidence on behalf of TUV Rheinland and the 17,000 claimants from Britain, France and South America, judges at the Commercial Court in Toulon found TUV Rheinland had “neglected its duties of vigilance” and awarded each claimant €3,000 (£2,500) immediately for the removal of their faulty breast implants, and a further €13,000 (£10,900) compensation for PIP breast implants to be received at a later date subject to an appeal by TUV Rheinland.

The verdict provides an opportunity for up to 400,000 women worldwide to claim compensation for PIP breast implants. Jan Spivey – spokeswoman for the British plaintiffs and the PIP Action Campaign group – said “I am delighted. It is a first important victory for PIP victims worldwide and especially those British victims who have received no help from the health service or the Government. It means that they can start to get the surgical help [to replace defective implants] that they urgently need.”

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High Court Judge Announced as Symphysiotomy  Compensation Scheme Leader

A former High Court judge has been announced by the Minister for Health as the leader in a report to examine the feasibility of a symphysiotomy  compensation scheme.

Earlier this month, the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly announced in a press conference that Judge Yvonne Murphy has been asked to examine the feasibility of a compensation scheme for women who underwent the controversial childbirth procedure. The woman-who have been left with permanent injuries such as incontinence, difficulty with walking and chronic pain-have been the centre of a legal battle for many years to receive the compensation to which they are entitled.

Judge Murphy has been asked to compile a series of compensation options for review in February 2014, to “assist in finding closure” for the women affected by the operation. In addition to the announcement of the scheme leader, Dr Reilly said that the Government would contribute to an ex gratia scheme if that is the symphysiotomy compensation plan recommended. It is reported that Judge Murphy will be meeting with insurance companies to explore whether they would contribute towards such a scheme.

Before this scheme was announced, a private members bill was brough to the Dáil by Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. At the time the bill was announced, Dr Reilly said that he would not oppose it. The point of the bill was to allow a one-year window for the affected women to make claims for symphysiotomy compensation. This bill faced difficulties when the Government were then told that such a move could result in a legal challenge by the insurance companies who would have been liable for compensating the women.

Sinn Féin’s health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin criticised plans to keep the statute of limitations in place. He said “The type of scheme outlined in the terms of reference offers the women no prospect of adequate compensation for what was so barbarically done to them nor the choice to pursue their rights in the courts.”

However Chairman of the support group Survivors of Symphysiotomy Ltd – Tom Moran – welcomed the announcement of a new symphysiotomy compensation plan. His comment was “We welcome this decision to appoint the judge and we hope it leads to women finally being given a chance of some kind of closure.”

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Injuries Board CEO Calls for Insurance Companies not to Raise Their Premiums

The CEO of the Injuries Board in Ireland has called for insurance companies not to increase the value of premiums that their customers pay in spite of the average value of Injuries Board awards increasing.

A recently published report on the awards of compensation issued by the Injuries Board shows that the value of compensation awarded has increased by more than 8 percent during the first six months of the year.

The report was published on the Injuries Board’s website. Both the total number of applications for assessment (16,162) and the average value of Injuries Board awards (€22,349) increased in relation to the corresponding  six-month period in 2012. The CEO of the Injuries Board in Ireland –  Patricia Byrne-commented that the higher volume of claims and increased value of accepted compensation assessments did not provide an excuse for insurance companies to increase the premiums they charge.

She said that, as the Board´s processing fee for respondents had been reduced from €850.00 to €600.00 between 2012 and 2013. The savings made by insurance companies should counter the increased value of Injuries Board claims, and thus their premiums should not rise. She added that early indications from the third quarter of 2013 show a general decline in the number of applications for assessment being received by the Injuries Board.

Traffic accident compensation claims made up nearly 75.5 percent of the claims, which was by far the highest proportion attributed to any one category. Claims for injuries sustained in public places (public liability claims) accounted for 16.4% of accepted Injuries Board assessments. The balance (8.1 percent) being made up of awards of compensation for accidents at work.

The report failed to highlight that the percentage of accepted assessments (Injuries Board awards that plaintiffs agree to) fell from 37.2 percent in 2012 to 32.7 percent in 2013. This number would indicate a higher proportion of claims for personal injury compensation are being settled outside of the Injuries Board process.

However, it should be noted that – even if you are in advanced stages of negotiating a compensation settlement with an insurance company – an application for assessment should still be submitted to the Injuries Board. If your negotiations are unsuccessful, and court action is required to resolve your claim, you (or your solicitor) will require that an Authorisation” is issued by the Injuries Board before court action can proceed.

Please also note that the Injuries Board does not accept applications for assessment when plaintiffs have sustained a loss, injury or the deterioration of an existing condition due to medical negligence, and it is always recommended that you seek the advice of a solicitor in these circumstances.

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Widower’s Claim for Compensation Settled in Out-of-Court Agreement

A widower’s claim for compensation for her husband’s wrongful death in hospital has been settled in an out-of-court agreement.

John Devereux from Greenrath, County Tipperary, attended the South Tipperary General Hospital in January 2008 with a swollen toe on his right foot. Doctors diagnosed that the toe was infected due to septic arthritis, and prescribed Sodium Fusidate to treat the infection. He was sent home, and was told that his infection should clear within the next couple of weeks.

The following month, John was still experiencing pain in his foot. He returned to the hospital to seek medical attention, and further complained of pains in his arms and legs. Doctors administered further doses of Sodium Fusilate  for his foot infection. John was admitted to hospital to be kept under medical observation. As John´s condition deteriorated, he was diagnosed with rhabdmoloysis – a condition in which the muscles break down – which then developed into acute renal failure.

In need of specialist attention, John was transferred to Cork University Hospital on February 21s. In spite of the efforts of medical staff, his condition failed to improve. He died in hospital on March 2nd 2008.

John´s widow – Margaret Devereux – sought legal counsel regarding her husband’s death in hospital. She made a wrongful death claim against Tipperary General Hospital on the grounds that the medication John had been prescribed when he first attended the hospital had conflicted with the treatment he was undergoing for his diabetes, and that medical staff at the clinic should have paid attention to the medicine he was already taking.

She further alleged that doctors at the hospital had failed to recognise the symptoms of rhabdmoloysis when John had returned to the hospital in a timely manner.  She made a claim for compensation for severe mental distress, loss and damages.

The wrongful death claim against Tipperary General Hospital was denied by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the grounds that the hospital had not been in breach of its duty of care. However, at the High Court in Dublin, Mrs Justice Mary Irvine heard that an out of court settlement amounting to €45,000 had been agreed between the two parties.

Approving the settlement, Mrs Justice Mary Irvine said that it had been a very tragic case, but there would have been a “huge hill” to climb if the case had had gone to trial.

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Master of Rotunda Hospital Calls for Greater Doctor Availability

The Master of the Rotunda Hospital has called on the government for an increase in senior doctor availability to reduce the number of birth negligence cases at the facility.

The Master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin-Dr Sam Coulter-Smith-has called on the HSE to address the problem of senior doctor availability. He claims that if more senior doctors were available in his facility, there would be a significant increase in the care offered to patients, and thus a reduction medical negligence cases. He made a particular reference to the number of cerebral palsy cases handled by the HSE.

Dr Sam Coulter-Smith made his address to the Health Service Executive while speaking to doctors, midwives and families at a conference aimed at reducing the number of medical negligence cerebral palsy cases in Ireland.

Dr Coulter-Smith said that the number of medical negligence cerebral palsy cases each year was the same as it was two decades ago. This is in spite of an increase in foetal monitoring and births by Caesarean section, and general improvements in the technology available to staff. He attributed this statistic to the preventable mistakes were being made by inexperienced medical staff.

He further stated that under the current consultant contracts, senior doctors only have to work in a hospital between 8.00am and 8.00pm. Outside of those hours they could be on call at home. This delay in their arrival to the hospital could be catastrophic in the case of an emergeny.

Dr Coulter-Smith said that this lack of senior staff caused junior doctors to make decisions regarding the health of mothers and babies, despite being largely inexperienced. He said “there needs to be 24/7 cover of labour wards by senior doctors to address this problem”.

He explained that staff at the hospital had introduced measures with the aim of helping to reduce the number of medical negligence cerebral palsy cases. A second tier of experienced doctors had been established who were available at the hospital when an emergency occurred outside of “normal” hours.

However, he admitted that these measures were contrary to the advice given by the Health Service Executive. The government body had asked the Rotunda Hospital to reduce the number of medical staff, and he called on the HSE to address the problem concerning the problem of senior doctor availability. He commented that the amount the State spent each year on paying compensation for medical negligence cerebral palsy cases was equivalent to his hospital´s annual budget. Therefore, increasing the number of senior doctors available would be a good investment.

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Support Group Calls for Increased Government Action in Child Narcolepsy Cases

A support group has called for the government to increase their efforts and follow through on the promises made to the families of children suffering from narcolepsy.

The Irish organisation Sufferers of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder (SOUNDS) recently made a public claim that the government has not fulfilled its promise to provide assistance for children suffering from the side effects of the 2009/10 flu jab. Families in the UK who suffer from similar circumstances have been offered compensation for adverse effects to Pandemrix, while no such offer has been made to Irish families.

SOUND’s statement comes in response to remarks made by Health Minister James Reilly while being interviewed at a radio station last week. In the interview, the health minister said that, to the “best of his knowledge”, all the personal and financial assistance that had been requested by families in Ireland whose children had contracted narcolepsy after being administered the flu vaccine Pandemrix had been provided.

Eilish Plunkett – a member of the SOUND committee – has claimed that the minister’s statement is incorrect. Ms Plunkett’s son Sean is one of the children suffering from narcolepsy as a result of the Pandemrix flu vaccine,. She commented that although “some services and financial compensation for the adverse effects to Pandemrix were in place”, the medical assistance that was being provided was classified as a temporary measure.

Ms Plunkett said that the provision of support services and financial compensation for the adverse effects to Pandemrix could be removed at any time at the discretion of the government. She states that her son had a permanent illness which needed life-long support. She added that a package of permanent support measures recommended in the official 2012 report “Investigation of an Increase in the Incidence of Narcolepsy in Children and Adolescents in 2009 and 2010” had still not gone before the government for approval. This is in spite of assurances from the Health Minister that they would be approved prior to the 2012 summer government break.

Meanwhile families in the UK have been told that – provided it can be shown that their children have suffered a severe disability – they will be eligible for compensation for the adverse effects to Pandemrix through the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme administered by the UK´s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A DWP spokesperson said “The Department for Work and Pensions has looked at some vaccine damage payments cases again in light of new information regarding swine flu and narcolepsy provided by the Department for Health”.

More than 800,000 doses of Pandemrix were administered in Ireland throughout the winter of 2009/10. The Health Service Executive said it knew of thirty cases of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy among children who were administered the vaccine. However, the support group SOUND claims to represent the interests of fifty-four children who are suffering from adverse effects to Pandemrix, and that the government figures are not accurate.

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RCSI Publishes Report into Primary Causes of Medical Malpractice Claims Against GPs

The RSCI has recently published a report into the leading causes of medical malpractice claims made against GPs in Ireland.

A report compiled by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has recently been published in the British Medical Journal which revealed that medical malpractice claims against GPs are for wrong diagnosis. The report was compiled by the Centre for Primary Care Research in Dublin. In researching the report, investigators looked into more than seven thousand medical malpractice claims against GPs. Its objective was to identify which areas of primary care required specific attention when developing risk management systems for primary healthcare practitioners and planning future educational strategies.

The report-entitled “The Epidemiology of Malpractice Claims in Primary Care: A Systematic Review”-found that the most common reason for medical malpractice claims against GPs were for the missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer. In particular, the report mentioned breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and cancer of the female genital tract. The report also revealed that medication errors (prescribing and administering) was the cause for a large proportion of the complaints. In children, the failure to correctly diagnose appendicitis and meningitis was the leading cause for claims.

Lead researcher Dr Emma Wallace – who is herself a GP – acknowledged that medical malpractice claims against GPs were not the ideal substitute for adverse events. She commented that when medical malpractice claims are made against GPs, the doctors against whom the claims are made often suffer increased stress levels – reducing their effectiveness, and placing more patients at risk of a misdiagnosis or medication error.

Dr Wallace also highlighted the fact that GPs are more frequently practicing defensively due to the risk of litigation. Therefore, they refer patients to consultants rather than make a diagnosis themselves in order to protect themselves against missed diagnoses cases. This unwillingness to use their experience to make a diagnosis can lead to patients´ conditions deteriorating further (due to the delay in seeing a consultant) and ultimately create more pressure on an under-resourced health service.

She hopes that the “systematic review is timely considering the increased interest in focusing on primary care as a way of improving patient care and safety” and that the report will provide an insight into the types of adverse events in clinical practice and the reasons for them happening, which would reduce the number of medical malpractice claims against GPs in Ireland and have the effect of increasing the standard of primary care provided.

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Five Hospitals Found in Serious Breach of National Health Standards

Five hospitals around Ireland have been found in serious breach of National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

The Health Information and Quality Authority have recently conducted inspections in medical facilities around the country, which have revealed a high risk of infections in hospitals. Five hospitals in particular have been given six weeks to develop a suitable quality improvement plans, or face consequences.

In June, The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found five serious breaches of the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections in hospitals in Ireland. These breaches of the National Standards meant that patients and visitors alike were placed at high risk of contracting an infection in the hospitals. HIQA has published the results of their findings in order to alert the general public and raise awareness of the issue.

A summary of the conclusions of the report for each of the five hospitals can be found below:

Louth County Hospital

Louth County Hospital was a typical example of patients being placed at high risk of infections in hospitals. Inspectors discovered two cases in which patients with known transmissible infections were placed in isolation rooms with the doors left open onto the general ward as standard practice.

Navan Hospital

The Emergency Department at Navan Hospital was found to be generally unclean and was not effectively managed to reduce the spread of infections. Hygiene problems in the hospital´s female medical ward where also identified resulting in patients not adequately protected from the risk of healthcare associated infections.

St Michael´s Hospital, Dun Laoghaire

At St Michael´s Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, inspectors discovered that mould had been allowed to develop in the hospital´s toilets and showering facilities. Inspectors reported that hand hygiene practices in general posed a risk of transmitting infections to patients.

Portiuncila Hospital

At Portiuncila Hospital in Ballinasloe a high risk of infections in hospitals was due to the hospital failing to make use of security features already in place which allowed uncontrolled access to hazardous clinical waste material and medical equipment.

Waterford Regional Hospital

The inspectors found the Waterford Regional Hospital in breach of several guidelines set by the National Standards. Patients with suspected transmittable diseases were left in the main area of the Emergency Department due to the isolation room being used as a storeroom, and therefore exposed a great many more people to possible infection. They also found that the hand hygiene of staff working in the Emergency Department was inadequate and risked spreading healthcare associated infections to other patients. Mould had been allowed to develop around the base of a shower used by patients, on the soap holder, around the water outlet and on the shower chair. Commodes and bedpans were so heavily stained that they had to be withdrawn from use and one member of staff was observed failing to clean a used commode after use.

About the Health Information and Quality Authority

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent body which examines the safety and quality of the health service in Ireland. The National Standards it inspects for are applicable to healthcare services provided by or on behalf of the Heath Services Executive (HSE), as well as those provided by independent nursing and care homes – with particular scrutiny on services for persons with disabilities, children and older people.

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Savita Halappanavar’s Husband Announces Medical Negligence Claim Against HSE

The husband of Savita Halappanavar – who died at the University Hospital Galway last October after being denied an abortion – has announced that he is making an HSE hospital negligence claim for compensation.

In October, Savita Halappanavar (31) had attended the Galway hospital on the morning after complaining of a severe back pain. She was found to be miscarrying her 17 week-old foetus. In spite of her condition, she was sent home by hospital staff. Still experiencing excruciating pain, Savita returned later in the day and was admitted overnight.

The following morning, Savita´s consultant doctor – Dr Katherine Astbury – was advised that Savita´s waters had broken and said that she would have to “await events”. Savita waited until the following day before requesting a termination, but was told by the midwife manager that it was not possible while the foetal heartbeat was still present due to restrictive abortion laws in Ireland.

Savita´s condition continued to rapidly deteriorate. Dr Astbury misdiagnosed her with sepsis after, as the consultant had failed to read the patient notes made the previous evening. Dr Astbury admitted at the inquest into Savita´s death that, at that point, she had consulted with a senior colleague about a termination. A later scan revealed that Savita´s baby was already dead.

Savita was moved to intensive care, where it was discovered that she had developed septicaemia due to E.coli ESBL. She became critically ill and, on Sunday October 28th, she died of multiple organ failure due to severe septicaemia.

An inquest into Savita´s death delivered a verdict of medical misadventure and a Health Service Executive investigation was carried out to identify where the failings occurred that lead to Savita´s death. However, despite discovering a catalogue of negligence, the investigation failed to establish who was at fault, and the HSE declined to admit liability for Savita´s wrongful death.

Savita´s distraught family described the HSE´s report as a “whitewash”, and the case gained much media attention. Savita’s widower-Praveen Halappanavar-has now announced he is making an HSE hospital negligence claim for compensation on the grounds that the University Hospital Galway failed to follow up blood tests, failed to diagnose and failed to treat.

Whether Praveen´s HSE hospital negligence claim goes to court will depend on whether the hospital or HSE acknowledge their liability before a court date is arranged

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Teenager Receives Interim Settlement of Compensation for Birth Injuries

A teenager has received an interim settlement of compensation for injuries he sustained at birth which left him suffering from cerebral palsy.

In January 2000, Ryan Brennan from Cahir in County Tipperary was born at St. Joseph´s Hospital in Clonmel. Several hours before he was born, a foetal trace had indicated to medical staff that he had an abnormal heart rate. Ryan was described as being in a “poor condition” when he was born. He had to be resuscitated shortly after his delivery. He also suffered seizures throughout the rest of the day and sustained irreversible brain damage. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

On behalf of their son, Ryan’s parents sought legal counsel. It was claimed by Ryan´s parents that Ryan´s injuries could have been avoided if the staff at St Joseph´s Hospital and, in particular, consultant obstetrician – Dr Brendan Powell – had acted with as soon as the foetal trace had identified a problem. They made a compensation claim for brain damage due to a failure to act on behalf of their son against Dr Powell and the HSE.

Both of the defendants denied the allegations of a failure to act, negligence, a breach of contract by the hospital and a breach in the duty of care by Dr Powell. Due to the dispute in liability, the case was heard at the High Court in Dublin by Ms Justice Mary Irvine.

The judge was told that an agreement had been reached with the HSE on an interim settlement of compensation for brain damage due to a failure to act, without an admission of liability. Furthermore, he case against Dr Powell  had been struck out.

The interim settlement amounts to €1.7 million and is valid for two years while a review of Ryan´s future needs is conducted and to allow for the proposed introduction of a structured compensation payment system in Ireland. Ms Justine Mary Irvine approved the settlement – describing it as ‘in the upper parameters of these types of cases’ as she did.

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Judge Approves Interim Settlement of Compensation in Avoidable Delay at Birth Case

A High Court judge has approved an interim settlement of compensation to be awarded to a boy who sustained major brain damage due to an avoidable delay in his delivery.

A 10-year-old boy, who developed acute hypoxic ischaemia moments before his birth and was then left unventilated after his delivery, has had an interim settlement of compensation for dyskinetic cerebral palsy approved in court.

In July 2002, Eoin Murphy (ten years of age),of Malahide, County Dublin, was born at the Coombe Women’s and Infants’ University Hospital. Medical staff had diagnosed him with suffering from near total acute hypoxic ischaemia at the time of his birth. However, he was not ventilated until seventeen minutes later because a paediatric registrar was not available at the time.

As a consequence of the avoidable delay, Eoin´s brain was starved of oxygen  and he sustained significant brain damage. He was later diagnosed with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. One of the predominant symptoms of this diagnosis is the presence of involuntary uncoordinated movements in the arms, legs, face, and trunk.

On behalf of her son, Dr Fiona Murphy sought legal counsel. She made a claim for dyskinetic cerebral palsy against the hospital and, in February this year, Ms Justice Mary Irvine found the Coombe Hospital liable for Eoin´s injuries after a High Court hearing.

The case in February was adjourned for the assessment of damages, and yesterday Mr Justice Michael Moriarty approved an interim settlement of compensation for dyskinetic cerebral palsy amounting to €2.9 million on Eoin’s behalf, as he was a minor at the time of the hearing.

The settlement should be sufficient to provide Eoin with support and care for two years, with a further hearing scheduled for 2015, when a review of Eoin´s future requirements will be conducted and by which time a periodic compensation payment system may be in place.

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