HSE apologises to man left blind after routine gland op
The apology was read out as part of the settlement of bar manager Eoin White’s action over the operation in October 2012, which has left him legally blind.
Mr White, of The Walk, Heron’s Wood, Carrigaline, Co Cork, has no vision in his left eye and only a small amount of vision in his right eye.
Emily Egan, counsel for the HSE, read out an apology from the CEO of Cork University Hospital JA McNamara.
“On behalf of Cork University Hospital we wish to express our sincere unreserved apology for the failings in care and for the serious injuries that they caused,” the apology stated.
“We deeply regret the distress and trauma suffered by you and your family as a result of the loss to your vision.”
Counsel Liam Reidy, announcing the settlement, told the court that during the operation on the pituitary gland, the optic nerve, which was “the junction box of the eyes”, was dissected and this had left Mr White legally blind.
In a statement after the court settlement, Mr White, who was in court with his wife Sarah, said he went in to Cork University Hospital for a routine operation on his pituitary gland and when he woke up afterwards he could not see.
He said it had taken three years to get the matter to court.
Mr White said the surgeon who carried out the operation and who no longer works at Cork University Hospital later told him he had cut his optic nerve.
Mr White, a bar manager had sued the HSE as a result of the operation on October 12, 2012. He had been advised he required surgery to remove a lesion on the pituitary gland. Liability was admitted in the case and it was before the court for assessment of damages only.
It was claimed the gland surgery was performed in a negligent manner and there was a failure to promptly inform Mr White of what happened and why.
It was claimed that, upon waking, Mr White immediately complained of a loss of vision in his left eye and blurred vision in his right eye. He had a second surgical procedure but it was unsuccessful.
It was claimed that Mr White, who has two boys aged 5 and 7, had suffered a permanent injury and a gross disruption of his life as a result of what happened.
He also had to have further surgery in November 2012 to remove the lesion from the pituitary gland, which had not been removed in the first operation.
It was claimed Mr White suffered from severe shock and trauma as a result.
