A mother who is suing a hospital and doctor over the treatment of her son who died eight years ago claimed her bereavement was greatly compounded by the fact she was aware of and witnessed the alleged negligent treatment.
Ms Geraldine Cleary (54) claims she suffered nervous shock, severe distress and depression over and above that caused by her bereavement because of the way her late son Patrick (17) was treated at the Mater Hospital, Dublin. She claims her son had been discharged although his condition had deteriorated and if he had been kept in hospital, he might be alive today.
Ms Cleary, a qualified nurse, of Bray, Co Wicklow, has taken a High Court action for damages against a nominee of the Mater Hospital, and a senior house officer, Dr Brian Kirby. The defence denies the claims.
Patrick, the second-eldest of a family of seven, was admitted to hospital on October 27th, 1994, having been referred by a general practitioner.
It is claimed that, despite a disimprovement in his condition, he was released on November 4th. Ms Cleary claimed she requested his re-admission when he further deteriorated but the defendants failed to re-admit him or to diagnose his complaint and failed to heed her as a nurse and mother.
As a result, it is alleged, Patrick was denied treatment and died on November 7th, 1994. Due to her training as a nurse, it is pleaded, she was aware of and unhappy about the contradictory nature of explanations given by the defendants, their servants or agents.
Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, for Ms Cleary, said the court would hear evidence of the post-mortem results. Patrick had died of pulmonary embolism related to a blood clot in the pelvic region.
At the time, Patrick was in otherwise good health. Ms Cleary claimed that Patrick should, in ordinary circumstances, have been kept in hospital on November 4th and that if he had, there was a great probability that he would be alive today.
In evidence, Ms Cleary told Mr Dominick Hussey SC, with Mr O'Higgins, that at the time of Patrick's death, she had given up nursing to look after her children. They were a very close family. Patrick was a "wonderful" son and they had all suffered terrible trauma since his death.
She became aware that Patrick was sick on October 21st. She took him to a GP who diagnosed pneumonia. He was put on antibiotics. When he was still not well, the GP decided to send him to hospital, where he was admitted.
On October 31st Ms Cleary got a call to say Patrick was being discharged but she said she did not want to take him home. He was coughing blood-stained sputum. He was coughing like that when he went into hospital and when he came home. When they took him home he was very weak. He continued coughing blood-stained sputum.
The hearing before Ms Justice Carroll continues today.