Man settles case against HSE for €1.5m

A retired plasterer is to receive €1.5m after claiming that a defibrillator repeatedly failed to deliver shocks while he was being resuscitated for cardiac arrest.

John Boyle (aged 69) of Masonbrook, Loughrea, Co Galway sued the HSE claiming staff at Portiuncula Hospital did not pay proper attention during the procedure.

On February 7, 2006, Mr Boyle suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed while in the waiting area of the A&E department.

The court heard the defibrillator used to resuscitate him recorded at intervals that no shock had been given, but it is alleged this was only noticed by a nurse after about 80 minutes.

He was defibrillated three more times following another cardiac arrest that evening, but the court heard no shock was delivered on any of those three occasions.

Suing for negligence through his daughter Karen, the retired plasterer alleged hospital staff had failed to effectively monitor the machine.

He claimed this meant he suffered prolonged cardiac arrests and a brain injury that left him fully dependent.

The case has settled for €1.5m, but there has been no admission of liability by the HSE.