THE HUSBAND of a woman who died as a result of a brain tumour has settled his High Court action alleging negligence in the treatment of his wife by St Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin.
James Quinlan, Lansdowne Park, Ennis Road, Limerick, claimed the hospital had discharged his wife Elizabeth Quinlan (42), a secondary school teacher, without appropriate action or follow-up after a CT scan had shown a lesion in her brain.
After the case was partly opened yesterday, there were talks between the sides after which Mr Justice John Quirke was told the action was settled and could be struck out. No details were disclosed. The hospital had earlier admitted liability.
Mr Quinlan claimed that, while his wife was a patient in St Vincent’s hospital on August 3rd, 1995, a CT scan of her brain was performed which confirmed a space-occupying lesion in the right side of her brain. He claimed his wife was discharged without appropriate action or follow-up.
He claimed the hospital failed to treat her through steroids and neurological referral with a view to lesion removal which, he claimed, would have permitted her to survive or live longer.
Brendan Watchorn SC, for Mr Quinlan, said Elizabeth Quinlan died on September 20th, 1995. He said that, while at a music festival at UCD at the end of July 1995, she began to feel unwell and was taken to St Vincent’s hospital. A CT scan was carried out on August 3rd, counsel said. He said her husband was told all was fine and there was “no problem”.