A 73-year-old woman who sued the Mid- Western Health Board over the alleged failure to diagnose a dislocated shoulder settled her High Court action yesterday. It is believed she is to receive some €170,000 in damages.
Ms Nora Bourke, a widow, of Birdhill, Tipperary, tripped over a carpet at her home on April 10th, 2000 and sustained a bump on her head and pain in her right shoulder. On the following day, she was referred by her GP, Dr Patrick Moroney, to Limerick Regional Hospital for an X-ray.
Mr Bruce Antoniotti SC, for Ms Bourke, said she was told the X-Ray did not reveal any abnormality, other than that her shoulder was merely bruised, and she was discharged from the hospital with a sling.
Counsel said the case revolved around the fact that the dislocation was misdiagnosed. Documents discovered included an X-ray report in which a radiologist attached to the hospital had seen the dislocation on April 12th. Mr Antoniotti said Ms Bourke was now left with a permanently dislocated shoulder.
On April 20th, a letter was received from the hospital informing her to attend the hospital at 9.30 a.m. that same morning. When her daughter rang to point out that they had only received the letter that morning, she was told the visit was for a checkup and Ms Bourke could, if she wished, go to her own GP.
She was subsequently referred by her GP to Nenagh Hospital where an X-ray showed she had a dislocated shoulder and she was referred back to Limerick Regional Hospital. On June 15th, 2000, she was told at Limerick Regional Hospital that her dislocated shoulder was too long out after two and a half months and there was nothing that could be done about it.