Hospital apologises after death of baby boy

Temple Street Children’s Hospital has apologised to the parents of a 10-month-old baby boy who died from a brain tumour after his diagnosis was delayed.

Kaiden Costello died just three days after brain surgery in Jul 2009. His counsel, John O’Mahony, told the High Court that earlier diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment would have likely saved the baby’s life and given him an 80% chance of surviving five years and possibly beyond. The baby had been admitted to Temple St when in Apr 2009 as he had gone off his food.

Failure to thrive was diagnosed but an MRI scan which diagnosed a brain tumour was not carried out until Jun 24.