HSE apologies to truck driver

The Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, has apologised to a truck driver who has sued after his voice box was removed five years ago in a 14-hour unnecessary operation.

Father of four and grandfather Kevin McMahon, the High Court already heard, has no natural voice and can only speak through an artificial voice box.

Counsel for the HSE, Emily Egan, in the High Court yesterday, extended an apology on behalf of the hospital to Mr McMahon.

She said she wished to extend sincere apologies on behalf of the hospital for the delay in treatment and the resulting consequences for Mr McMahon.

Mr McMahon, aged 63, of Glasgow Park, Roxboro, Limerick, has sued the HSE over his diagnosis, treatment, management, and care, and in particular an operation where his larynx was removed at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in January 2011.

He has also sued in relation to a three-month delay in a second biopsy of his vocal cord ordered by a surgeon. The second biopsy was supposed to be carried out in October 2010 but was cancelled and rescheduled for January 2011.

He has claimed there was a three-month delay in carrying out a second biopsy in relation to his vocal cord and a failure to discuss the treatment options available before carrying out radical head and neck surgery when it was unreasonable to do so.

It was further claimed it was unreasonable and inappropriate to treat Mr McMahon with radical surgery.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told liability had been admitted this week and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

The case before Mr Justice Kevin Cross continues today.