A retired surgeon who is being sued for negligence by a former patient, asked that patient at the High Court yesterday why she had constantly complained of pain and why, having received large doses of narcotic drugs, she had looked for more.
Mr Vincent Lynch, who had carried on a practice at St Vincent's Hospital and the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin, is conducting his own defence. He was told by Ms Christine Carroll she had not asked for specific drugs and had accepted what was given to her by medical staff. She did not know what injections she received.
Ms Carroll (45), a hospital administrator, of Brookfield Court, Brookfield Green, KCR, Dublin, was admitted to St Vincent's with a collapsed lung. She claims Mr Lynch carried out "keyhole surgery" on her on June 5th, 1996, made an incorrect entry near her right nipple and punctured an artery causing bleeding.
As a result, she alleges Mr Lynch had to carry out chest surgery to stop the bleeding and she had suffered pain on her right side since then. Mr Lynch denies Ms Carroll's claims.
In court yesterday, Ms Carroll said her right lung collapsed on two occasions prior to the operation. She agreed that from the lung point of view, Mr Lynch's surgery had worked.
Mr Lynch said he saw her on five occasions at his clinic.
She agreed she had been complaining of pain but denied her right breast was only minimally enlarged. The size had since regularised but she could still barely touch her breast.
On January 22nd, 1997, six months after the operation, he said he had gone over her complaints in great detail, saw she was distressed and got her into hospital where she was extensively investigated. She was seen by a respiratory physician, a cardiologist and a neurologist and all investigations were reported to be normal.
Ms Carroll responded that the neurologist had not said everything was normal. Mr Lynch said Ms Carroll had previously been admitted to St Vincent's in April 1996. He asked if she had received doses of Pethidine. Ms Carroll said she could only remember getting an injection into her side.
On April 20th, 1996, Ms Carroll, according to hospital notes, was given 11 injections for pain problems, 12 the following day and nine doses a day later, Mr Lynch said. All these were opiate drugs.
Ms Carroll said she had no idea as to the accuracy of his statements. She had had a collapsed lung, chest pains and she received pain medication while going through the pain process.
She did not remember meeting a Dr Curry on April 21st, 1996. Mr Lynch said Dr Curry had stated the description of her pain was "non-descript" and Dr Curry believed there was a psychological impediment. He said Dr Curry also noted Ms Carroll was overly dependent on strong analgesics.
Mr Justice Johnson asked Mr Lynch if he was suggesting Ms Carroll was a morphine addict. Mr Lynch said he was not suggesting anything but there were facts which would worry a surgeon.
Ms Carroll told the judge she had not asked for specific drugs and had accepted what doctors had given her.
The hearing continues today.