Woman told husband his life support would be ended

THE heartbroken wife of a man who suffered complications following an operation had to break the devastating news to her “compos mentis” husband that his life-support equipment was going to be switched off.

Retired Garda, Patrick Quinn, 66, of Sandymount, Dublin 4 died at St Vincent’s University Hospital on May 7, 2010, an inquest at Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard. He was in hospital recovering from major surgery to treat a cancerous tumour in the pancreas.

Staff at the hospital told Rosaline Quinn that her husband’s treatment was going to be discontinued.