Action over Sligo death settled

The family of a pensioner who died at Sligo General Hospital days after suffering a perforated ulcer have settled their High Court action against an obstetrician and the HSE.

Sisters Anne O’Connor, Gresham House, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, and Maura Callaghan, Carick Road, Boyle, Co Roscommon, had sued Dr Victor Moore and the HSE following the death of their mother Bridie O’Connor (71) at the hospital on St Patrick’s Day 2003.

They alleged Dr Moore, with an address at Hillsborough, Co Down, had treated their mother for a complaint of post-menopausal bleeding while the duty of the HSE was to manage the hospital and provide adequate services.

Announcing the settlement of the action today, Edward Walsh SC, for the plaintiffs, told Mr Justice John Quirke the hospital specifically regretted the hurt and upset caused to the family on the unfortunate death of their mother.

Mr Walsh also said the matter had been fully investigated by the Medical Council and the hospital and “lessons had been learned”. It is understood the family will also receive a small sum in damages under the settlement.

In the action, it was claimed Bridie O’Connor was referred to Dr Moore at Garden Hill Private Hospital in Sligo in February 2003 and he had informed the plaintiffs their mother had an enlarged womb and cancer in the womb and she should have a total abdominal hysterectomy and other treatment which was performed on February 26th 2003.

It was claimed Mrs O’Connor’s subsequent death was caused or contributed to by negligence and breach of duty of Dr Moore in his diagnosis of her condition and his decision to direct a total abdominal hysterectomy.

It was alleged Dr Moore incorrectly diagnosed an enlarged uterus and likely endometrial carcinoma, failed to carry out any appropriate test for malignancy and, prior to carrying out the hysterectomy, failed to procure and consider the report of another doctor of February 25th 2003 which stated there was no evidence of endometrial carcinoma.

It was also claimed the death was caused or contributed to be the negligence of the HSE and its agents in the care and management of the deceased and particularly the alleged failure for some three days to diagnose and treat the perforated ulcer.

After the hysterectomy on February 26th 2003, it was claimed Mrs O’Connor was recovering normally until March 1st, 2003 when she complained of feeling unwell. Despite requests from her daughter, it was claimed no doctor examined Mrs O’Connor until 10pm on March 2nd when she was given two paracetamol tablets, a cooling fan and antibiotics for nausea.

It was claimed Mrs O’Connor was clearly very unwell on March 3rd but the hospital neglected her condition. Her daughter Anne O’Connor requested her mother undergo a CT scan which, it was claimed, would have shown she had a perforated ulcer but they were told this could not be authorised although, they claimed, a scanning machine was within metres of her bed.

It was claimed Dr Moore did carry out a scan on Mrs O’Connor about 8pm on March 4th which revealed a perforated duodenal ulcer and he directed she be taken immediately to theatre for a laparatomy. She was ventilated after surgery and treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital until she died on March 17th.