Hospital failed to notice 'water on the brain' of young girl, court told

The High Court has heard that a young girl suffered "devastating and permanent injuries" as a result of an alleged failure to recognise that she had developed water on the brain in the weeks and months shortly after she was born.

Ten-year-old Jade Keane, who is suing through her mother Gillian Keane of Wyatville Park Loughlinstown, Co Dublin was born at Holles Street on March 21, 2001, suffered brain damage which left her blind, wheelchair bound, and will need care for the rest of her life after she developed hydrocephalus which also known as "water on the brain".

The action is against the HSE, Dr Dermot Stones Albany Court Shanganagh Road, Ballybrack Co Dublin and The National Maternity Hospital Holles Street for their alleged negligence and breach of duty of care which resulted in Jade sustaining severe personal injuries loss and damage.

The action is brought on grounds including that both the HSE and Dr Stones failed to act, and that hydrocephalus was the most likely cause, when Jade's head began to enlarge to an abnormal size.

It is also claimed that both defendants failed to act on Jade's family's concerns about the degree of the child's head enlargement.

It is further alleged that Holles Street failed to observe that Jade's head size was abnormal and failed to act in accordance with good standards appropriate to Maternity hospital, and failed to intervene surgically.

Today the court heard that negligence has been admitted, and that the issue of causation was being disputed by each of the defendants.

The defendants who deny that Jade is entitled to any relief claimed that Jade had hydrocephalus both at and prior to her birth, and that her injuries were caused by a pre-existing condition.

The case before Mr Justice Sean Ryan continues, and is expected to last for several weeks.