THE FAMILY of a secondary school teacher, who died after his heart was accidentally pierced during a post-operative procedure at Dublin’s Blackrock Clinic, has secured €385,000 damages against a surgical registrar in a settlement of High Court proceedings.
The action was brought by Maura Ridge against surgeon Michael J Tolan and surgical registrar Ramy Alnahhal – both doctors at Blackrock Clinic at the time – as well as the clinic, alleging negligence and breach of duty of care arising from the death of her husband Art Ridge (62) on December 18th, 2005.
Yesterday, the court heard liability had been admitted in full by Dr Alnahhal and the settlement was against him, while the case against the other defendants, who had both denied liability, was struck out.
Ms Ridge had brought the case on behalf of herself and the family of her late husband.
Mr Ridge, Mohill, Co Leitrim, had successfully undergone cardiac surgery at the Blackrock Clinic in December 2005 to replace a valve in his heart.
It was claimed that during the insertion of a chest drain by Dr Alnahhal, following a review of an X-ray as part of Mr Ridge’s post-operative care, Mr Ridge’s heart was accidentally pierced by the excessive use of force in the insertion of a forceps.
Mr Ridge suffered internal bleeding and underwent emergency surgery but died after almost an hour in the operating theatre.
When approving the settlement yesterday, Mr Justice John Quirke expressed sympathy to the Ridge family over the death of Mr Ridge at “a very young age” and “for no good reason”.
Eoin McGonigal SC, for Ms Ridge, said the family was happy to accept the settlement.
In a statement after the court hearing, the Ridge family said they were “pleased the case had finally been resolved”. The last five years had been very difficult for them and they hoped the settlement would bring “some closure”.