THE State still has one of the highest rates of neural tube defects, including spina bifida, in the world, a Dublin consultant paediatrician told the High Court yesterday.
Dr Brian Denham of Sandyford, Co Dublin, was being cross examined in an action in which he and Mount Carmel Hospital, Dublin, are being sued by Ms Gemma Lynch (16) through her mother, Mrs Patricia Lynch, Killiney, Co Dublin.
The girl, who is alleged to have spina bifida, is claiming negligence and breach of duty when she was born. Dr Denham and the hospital deny Gemma was born with spina bifida or that there was a diagnostic failure.
Dr Denham said spina bifida was fortunately much rarer today than in 1980. Ireland had one of the highest instances of neural tube defects in the world and still did despite the gratifying fall. He had been aware that Mrs Lynch had been disturbed about Gemma after her birth because a previous child had died. Gemma had no neurological defect at the time.
The case continues.