THE HEALTH Service Executive has apologised before the High Court to the family of a Garda sergeant who died after giving birth to twins at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
One of her twin boys died in the arms of Tania McCabe, the court heard.
The apology was made yesterday when Sgt Aidan McCabe (41), Termonfeckin, Co Louth, settled his action over the death of his wife Tania McCabe (34), also a sergeant, who died at the hospital on March 9th, 2007. One of her twin sons, Zach, who was born three months prematurely, had died the previous day.
The case was brought by Sgt McCabe, the couple’s eldest son Ben (6) and surviving twin Adam (4).
The HSE had admitted negligence. The case came before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill for assessment of damages. The court approved a settlement of just over €200,000 for the two children. Details of the settlement for Mr McCabe were not disclosed.
Adrienne Egan SC, on behalf of the HSE, expressed sincere regret to the family for the very sad outcome and for the loss of Ms McCabe and her baby son.
Ms McCabe was admitted to hospital on March 6th, 2007, after her waters broke three months before her due date, was discharged the following day and readmitted the next day in labour.
The twins were delivered by Caesarean section on March 8th but one had severe congenital abnormalities and died in Ms McCabe’s arms a short time after his birth. In the hours following the birth, Ms McCabe suffered a postpartum haemorrhage and had emergency surgery but died.
Mr McCabe alleged negligence against the HSE and a consultant obstetrician, Shane Higgins, attached to the hospital, in failing to diagnose properly his wife’s waters had broken, wrongfully discharging her from hospital and not diagnosing she was in septic shock when readmitted.
A claim by Ms McCabe’s mother Barbara Corcoran for nervous shock was also settled.
Denis McCullough SC, for Mr McCabe, said Ms McCabe had qualified as an accountant before becoming a garda. He said this was a fatal injuries action arising out of medical negligence that had been admitted by the defendants.
He said she was 13 weeks pregnant in November 2006 with a twin pregnancy and had booked private consultant care under Dr Higgins. On March 8th, a delivery was performed. On March 9th, fresh blood was noted. When she was found unrousable, she was transferred to the intensive care unit for a blood transfusion and oxygen therapy. A laparotomy to control the bleeding was completed but Ms McCabe was subsequently pronounced dead.