Family of man who died after UHL's 'substandard' care settle High Court action
Colm O'Mahony died at University Hospital Limerick on April 8, 2020. Picture via RIP.ie
A 50-year-old man was subjected to a completely substandard level of care while a patient of University Hospital Limerick resulting in his death, it has been claimed in proceedings before the High Court.
The wife and family of Colm O’Mahony from Co Clare have settled a High Court action against the HSE over his death at the Limerick hospital on April 8, 2020.
The father-of-three, it is claimed, had been caused to die as a result of an alleged multiplicity of failures in his treatment and care while an inpatient at UHL and that he had been managed on a standard ward despite his severe acute, necrotising pancreatitis and deteriorating condition.
Active management of Mr O’Mahony’s condition, it is alleged, was withdrawn in a manner which it is claimed was wholly inappropriate and completely deprived the father-of-three of his chances of survival.
There was, it is further claimed, an alleged failure to follow Advanced Life Support guidelines for cardiac arrest and an alleged failure to attempt to reverse a treatable cause of cardiac arrest in Mr O’Mahony.
The family’s counsel — Liam Reidy SC with Esther Earley BL instructed by O’Brien and Co solicitors — told the court that Mr O’Mahony had been in the Limerick Hospital from March 16, 2020, until his death on April 8, 2020. Counsel said he got a pulmonary embolism, a clot on his lung, that should have been detected during the course of this treatment two days before he died.
He said the case had been settled after mediation. Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that liability was admitted by the HSE. In a statement outside court, Ms O’Mahony said it took four years for the HSE to admit liability for the death of her husband.
“Despite the settlement of this matter questions still remain unanswered as to why my husband's pulmonary embolism wasn't diagnosed,” she said.
Ethel O’Mahony, Killerk, Darragh, Co Clare had on behalf of her family sued the HSE over the death of her husband Colm O’Mahony.
Mr O’Mahony, who worked with Clare County Council, had been brought to the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick on March 16, 2020, complaining of severe central abdominal pain. He was admitted to the hospital and a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made and he was started on antibiotics.
During the course of his admission from March 16, 2020, until his death on April 8, 2020, it is claimed he had persistently raised inflammatory markers and high early warning scores at multiple points throughout his admission.
It is claimed there was a complete failure on the part of the HSE to respond adequately to Mr O’Mahony’s deteriorating condition over the course of his admission, culminating in his untimely death.
In the proceedings, it is also claimed that there was a failure to consider a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism from March 25, 2020, when Mr O’Mahony began to complain of shortness of breath.
Mr O’Mahony was not transferred to ICU for emergency treatment including cardiorespiratory support, it is claimed, when they knew or ought to have known the decision not to do so deprived him of his chance of survival.
It is also alleged there was a failure to respond to Mr O’Mahony’s deterioration on April 8, 2020, and following assessment by the critical care team at around 4pm, no new intervention or escalation in his care followed.
He wasn't transferred to a hospital ICU but instead, it is claimed, he was allowed to remain on the ward where his condition continued to deteriorate until he eventually arrested.
Noting the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Ms Ethel O’Mahony and family.
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