Woman awarded €500,000 damages

A YOUNG Co Louth woman who suffers from an inflamed colon has been awarded more than €500,000 in damages by the High Court after a judge found her illness was not properly treated or managed by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and the HSE (North Eastern Health Board).

Michelle Myles, 24, of Chestnut Grove, Tallinstown, Co Louth, who in 2000 spent several months in intensive unit after her bowel ruptured, sued the HSE and the hospital for negligence and their failure of duty arising out of their treatment of her for a colon condition over seven years ago.

Ms Myles said she developed an inflamed colon, and was treated by defendants between September 1997 and August 2000. The defendants had denied the claims.

Yesterday in a detailed judgment, Mr Justice John Quirke said that Ms Myles, who was under the care at the hospital of consultant physician Dr Jeremiah P Long, had “suffered very serious injuries” and her care had “fallen short of the level of care, management and treatment required”. The judge was satisfied there was “clear and serious negligence”, which caused a severe deterioration of her quality of life by the defendants.

She was awarded €300,000 in general damages, €175,000 for loss of earnings, plus €27,000 for medical expenses.

Outside the court she said: “I am happy with the outcome. I would urge anyone who has an illness that is not happy with their treatment not to be afraid to get a second opinion.”