A hospital has apologised “unreservedly” before the High Court to the family of a man (38) who died following what his family described as “an unjustifiable delay” in administering treatment to him for a perforated bowel.
A €500,001 payment to the family will also be made under settlement of their action.
Barry Murphy died at the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital Ltd in Cork City on the evening of April 24th, 2008.
A financial controller who suffered from Crohn’s disease, he was admitted to the hospital that morning suffering with abdominal pain, later diagnosed as a perforated bowl.
His widow Mary (41), Meadowgrove, Westwood, Carrigaline, Co Cork had sued the hospital alleging her husband’s death was the result of negligence, it failed to properly care for him, failed to operate on him in time and allowed him to die.
The hospital admitted liability and in an apology read in court yesterday said the level of care provided to the late Mr Murphy regrettably “fell short of an acceptable standard”.
The apology, set out in a letter from the hospital’s CEO, Gerard O’Callaghan, said the hospital “deeply regrets” the family’s loss and wished to “apologise unreservedly to Mrs Murphy, the couple’s two daughters and Mr Murphy’s extended family.
John Lucey SC, for Mrs Murphy, told Mr Justice John Quirke the family is to receive a payment of €500,001 in settlement of their action. The hospital had initially denied the claims but subsequently admitted liability and had offered an apology, he said.
Mrs Murphy, counsel added, was satisfied with the apology and was happy to accept the settlement.
Mr Justice Quirke said he was happy to approve the settlement once Mrs Murphy was satisfied with it. The judge also offered his sympathies to Mrs Murphy, her daughters and family.
What had happened to her husband was “unthinkable” and his loss was “tragic,” the judge said, adding he wished there was more he could do for them.