A man who was left legally blind after undergoing a routine operation at Cork University Hospital has settled his case against the HSE on terms including an apology.
The apology was read in the case of Eoin White (32), a father of two, who went into Cork University Hospital in October 2012 for a routine gland operation at the base of his brain but ended up blind after his optic nerve was cut.
Mr White, a bar manager from The Walk, Heron’s Wood, Carrigaline, Co Cork, is legally blind, the court heard. He has no vision in his left eye and only a small amount of vision in his right eye.
Emily Egan SC, for the HSE, read the apology from the chief executive of Cork University Hospital, J A McNamara.
It said: “On behalf of Cork University Hospital, we wish to express our sincere unreserved apology for the failings in care and for the serious injuries that they caused. We deeply regret the distress and trauma suffered by you and your family as a result of the loss to your vision.”
Liam Reidy SC, for Mr White, said, during the operation on the pituitary gland the optic nerve which counsel described as the “junction box of the eyes” was dissected.
Three years
In a statement after the court hearing, Mr White, who was accompanied in court by his wife Sarah, said he went into hospital for a routine operation on his pituitary gland and when he woke up afterwards he could not see. It had taken three years to get the matter to court, he said.
In his action, Mr White said he was advised in 2012 he required surgery to remove a lesion on the pituitary gland.
It was claimed the gland surgery was performed in a negligent manner and there was a failure to promptly inform Mr White of what happened and why. Upon waking, it was claimed Mr White immediately complained of a loss of vision in his left eye and blurred vision in his right eye. He had a second surgical procedure but that was unsuccessful.
It was claimed Mr White suffered a permanent injury, severe shock and trauma and a gross disruption of his life as a result of what happened. He also had to have further surgery in November 2012 to remove the lesion from the pituitary gland which had not been removed in the first operation.
Liability was admitted in the case and it was before the court for assessment of damages only.