Hospital expresses regret to family of Cork woman who died weeks after transplant

Karen Mitchell had been admitted to the hospital and had a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant

In a letter read to the High Court, St Vincent’s University Hospital said to the Mitchell family it wished to express “our regret for the care afforded to your much-loved daughter and sister Karen whilst in our hospital".  File Picture: PA

St Vincent’s University Hospital has expressed regret to the family of a Cork woman who died weeks after a transplant operation.

Karen Mitchell of Dromahane, Mallow, Co. Cork, was 32 years of age when she died at the Dublin hospital five years ago.

She had earlier been admitted to St Vincents University Hospital for a pancreas and kidney transplant, but it was claimed she developed a leak complication and sepsis, and later died on April 22, 2018, at the hospital.

In a letter read to the High Court, St Vincent’s University Hospital said to the Mitchell family it wished to express “our regret for the care afforded to your much-loved daughter and sister Karen whilst in our hospital which, we acknowledge, culminated in her untimely death on April 22, 2018.” 

It added: “We offer our sincere and deepest sympathy to you for her loss and for the grief and continuing sadness that her death has caused to your family.” 

The Mitchell’s counsel. Eugene Gleeson. told the court the case had been settled. The details of the settlement are confidential.

Karen’s brother Brian Mitchell of Ballsbridge, Dublin, had on behalf of his family—including his father Declan Mitchell of Dublin Hill, Cork—sued St Vincent’s Healthcare Group over the death of Karen at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin.

Family's claims

Karen had been admitted to the hospital and had a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant. It was claimed that her condition intensified leading to her death on April 22, 2018. 

Following an autopsy, it was claimed Karen’s cause of death was determined to be inflammatory response syndrome with sepsis due to an anastomotic leak. In the proceedings, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to consider the possibility of an anastomotic leak on April 7 after a CT scan.

It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to draw alleged appropriate inference from the CT examination of the abdomen and pelvis on April 20.

There was, it was further contended, an alleged failure to consider the possibility of obstruction of the anastomotic site and an alleged failure to aggressively manage the woman’s condition.

All the claims were denied. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds noted the settlement.