A woman who claimed a nerve in her left hand was damaged during a mastectomy operation in a Dublin hospital has settled her High Court action for damages for €170,000.
Catherine Corcoran (53), a probation officer of Shankill, Dublin, brought her proceedings following the mastectomy operation carried out at St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, on November 28th, 2001.
During the operation, Ms Corcoran claimed the median nerve in her left arm was severely damaged.
The action was brought against a nominee of the hospital and two surgeons, Arnold Hill and Margaret O'Donnell. All three defendants denied the claims.
Yesterday, the action was struck out with no order against the hospital and was also struck out against both surgeons, with an order for Ms Corcoran's costs in their case.
Ms Corcoran claimed that, after coming round from the anaesthetic, her left hand felt hypersensitive and was swollen. Nerve function tests in January 2002 showed complete lesion of the median nerve on the left side.
Having undergone traumatic breast surgery, she found this additional problem to be extremely difficult to deal with at a vulnerable time in her life, Ms Corcoran said.
As a result of the alleged injury, she claimed she was unable to carry out routine daily activities, such as dressing, preparing food and driving.
She underwent surgery in London in December 2002 but her left hand remains numb, it was claimed. She also used to enjoy playing golf but was now unable to hold a golf club effectively.
Outside court yesterday, Ms Corcoran said she used to enjoy DIY activities and gardening and had landscaped her own garden but was now no longer able to continue with these leisure activities.
The settlement money would not compensate for the way her life had changed, Ms Corcoran added.