Teenager who sued over cancer misdiagnosis settles action for €2m

In an apology read to the High Court, the hospital confirmed that mistakes were made in the diagnosis and treatment of the boy 

The teenager, who can not be identified, sued the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght and Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dubin. File Picture

A teenage boy with skin cancer who sued over the misdiagnosis of a malignant lesion as benign when he first went to hospital has settled his High Court action for €2m.

The boy’s cancer was not diagnosed for two years the High Court heard, and was only discovered when he went back with a grape-size lump on his neck, which turned out to be cancerous.

In an apology read to the High Court, the Adelaide & Meath Hospital incorporating the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin and Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin, Dublin said they wished to confirm that mistakes were made in the diagnosis and treatment of the boy.

“We wish to take this opportunity to say how sorry we are for what has happened. We hope we have learned from our errors to ensure that this will never happen again,” the apology added.

The teenager, who cannot be identified by order of the court, had sued the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght and Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dubin.

It was claimed they were negligent and in breach of duty in failing to correctly interpret, diagnose and report on the specimen taken in 2018 after he had the lesion removed.

Liability was admitted in the case which was before the court for assessment of damages only.

The teenager’s counsel Jeremy Maher, instructed by Michael Boylan Solicitors, told the court that the boy’s malignant lesion was treated instead as a benign mole.

In 2018, the boy’s parents had brought him to the The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght for the removal of the lesion.

The sample was sent to the Crumlin hospital for analysis.

At the opening of the action, Mr Maher with Declan Doyle said because it was identified as benign, the melanoma was not diagnosed for over two years.

“He was discharged without the appropriate follow-up,” counsel Jeremy Maher added.

Counsel said the teenager subsequently developed a lump on his neck.

A further biopsy was carried out and it was found to be metastatic malignant melanoma.

A scan later confirmed the skin cancer.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable.