Misdiagnosis led to unnecessary surgery for boy, 14

A 14-year-old boy underwent an unnecessary surgical procedure to remove veins from his abdomen because of a misdiagnosis in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Dublin, it has been claimed in the High Court.

Jake Callaghan, now aged 18, of Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin, Dublin, claims that the misdiagnosis of distended abdominal veins as varicocoele was a serious and unacceptable error which was not realised until he was under anaesthesia and during surgical exploration.

The hospital accepts liability but disputes the claim his situation is materially worse as a result of the surgery carried out on May 5, 2010.