3ft-long wire left inside woman after cancer operation
The 62-year-old woman did not discover the three foot long wire was there until two years later.
Liability is conceded in the case and it is before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill for assessment only.
Maureen Macken, of Oranhill, Oranmore, Co Galway, has taken the proceedings against the Mater private hospital in Dublin, and Thomas Corrigan, consultant general and vascular surgeon at the hospital.
Counsel for Ms Macken, Oonagh McCrann, said her client suffered from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of what happened and was on lifelong medication. Ms Macken believed she would never be free from anxiety because the guidewire had still not been removed.
It is claimed that on November 23, 2000, a portocath was inserted by the consultant to allow chemotherapy be administered but he omitted to remove the guidewire inside it. She was not told the wire was in her chest until November 18, 2002.
Ms Macken yesterday told the court she was told it had to be taken out immediately as the wire was stuck in a blood vessel.
Ms Macken she was told it would only take a few minutes to remove it but she was afraid the operation would stop her heart from beating. She was taken into the Mater hospital on November 19.
“They decided to get in through my neck. They were very agitated, aggressive and annoyed because they could not get it. Eventually they said, ‘we can’t keep doing this to her’ and just walked away.” At the time, she feared having a heart attack. Subsequently she was told they just could not get it out but hopefully it was OK and nothing would happen and would never cause her harm. “I was very frightened,” she said.
Afterwards she would not leave the house for a long time and was afraid to drive on her own. She was always afraid the wire was going to move and something would happen to her. She had dreadful panic attacks day and night.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
