€35,000 payout for delayed diagnosis

THE delayed diagnosis of colon cancer in an elderly woman, who subsequently died, led to a €35,000 payout by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the victim’s family.

The High Court settlement was reached late last year with no admission of liability by the HSE.

The 75-year-old woman was referred by her GP to Portlaoise Hospital in March 2005 after complaining of abdominal pains.

An ultrasound was carried out but the results were never passed on to her GP and they were only given to her when she returned nine months later, again complaining of abdominal pain.

She then began a legal action but lost her battle with cancer before the case could be heard. She died last June and her family continued to take the case. Speaking on RTÉ last night, her solicitor, Declan O’Flaherty, said she “was a elderly lady who had contributed enormously not just to her family but to society”.

Mr O’Flaherty said no defence was ever entered by the HSE and no explanation was given. A statement from the woman’s family said they hoped lessons would be learnt from this.

A HSE statement last night acknowledged a settlement was made by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the HSE in late December, 2006 “in relation to a case taken in early 2006”.

The statement said following the settlement a risk management review of the patient’s care was undertaken in the hospital.

“A revised standard operating procedure is now in place whereby the results are sent directly to the referring doctors. Also all verified results are now seen by the emergency medicine consultant,” the statement said.

The dead woman’s case is not linked with the review of radiology breast care services at Portlaoise hospital. Her illness was not misdiagnosed but she suffered the consequences of a delayed diagnosis.