Court to assess damages for woman whose cancer was misdiagnosed three times

A 56-year-old Co Tipperary woman whose breast cancer was misdiagnosed three times is seeking damages in the High Court.

Olive Fahey of Rahinch, Littleton, Thurles is suing Barringtons Hospital in Limerick, the HSE, and various medical professionals for negligence.

Her case has prompted two reports: one concluded there was significant error by two medical practitioners at University Hospital Galway where the breast tissue samples were sent for analysis.

Olive Fahey told the High Court she greeted her first misdiagnosis with shock and disbelief. "I was all geared up to be told it was cancer," she said.

That was in autumn 2005. The-56-year old was wrongly assured that she did not have breast cancer on two further occasions before the correct diagnosis was made in March 2007.

She said the mastectomy that followed was devastating to her.

The court heard that as a result of these mistakes her chance of survival more than halved and while she is currently in remission, she is at high risk of the cancer recurring.

The question of liability is not being contested. The court's role now is to assess appropriate damages.