A woman who had sued a Dublin hospital and three doctors over a sterilisation procedure yesterday withdrew her High Court action alleging negligence and apologised for the allegations of professional misconduct made during the case.
Ms Ann Butler (39), a mother of two, Naas, Co Kildare, had sued the old Adelaide Hospital; Dr Patrica Crowley, a consultant gynaecologist; Dr S. A. Aziz, a gynaecologist; and Dr David Rolfe, an anaesthetist.
She claimed that, following a sterilisation procedure eight years ago, she suffered nerve damage in her groin and genital areas. As a result, she alleged, she was disabled, could not work, could walk only 200 metres without suffering pain and could only sit for short periods. The hospital and the doctors had denied Ms Butler's claims.
The case had opened two weeks ago before Mr Justice Johnson and was predicted to last for another two weeks. However, when the hearing was due to resume yesterday, the judge was told he could dismiss the action.
Mr John Trainor SC, for Ms Butler said that, on consent, the judge could dismiss the action with no order as to costs. His client had agreed to withdraw the allegations of impropriety and negligence against the defendants. She had also agreed to apologise for the allegations of professional misconduct which were made against the defendants and the nursing staff.
The sterilisation procedure was carried out at the hospital on July 13th, 1995 when Ms Butler was aged 32. Ms Butler had attended Dr Crowley who oversaw and was present in the operating theatre when the procedure was carried out by Dr Aziz.
Ms Butler was not in court yesterday when the case was withdrawn.