Man settles case against Cork hospital for €90k over sudden and unexpected death of his wife

The High Court heard that the husband was allegedly given the news of his wife’s death in a hospital lift by a nurse and he nearly passed out with shock

The family's counsel said it was their case that at Mallow General Hospital the pensioner was allegedly not tested properly and not screened appropriately in relation to blood clots and if she had been given blood thinners she may have survived. File picture: Denis Minihane

A man who sued over the sudden and unexpected death of his wife at Mallow General Hospital five years ago has settled a High Court action for €90,000.

Mother of five and grandmother to 13, Katherine Heneghan was 71 years of age when she died as a result of a blood clot on September 10, 2020.

The family’s counsel, Dr John O’Mahony SC with Doireann O’Mahony BL, told the High Court there was a “bed issue” at Cork University Hospital and Mrs Heneghan had been admitted to the Mallow General Hospital Counsel. 

They said it was their case that at Mallow General Hospital the pensioner was allegedly not tested properly and not screened appropriately in relation to blood clots and if she had been given blood thinners she may have survived.

Counsel said it was a very sad death and Mrs Heneghan was a “dearly loved wife, mother and grandmother.” The settlement against the HSE is without an admission of liability.

At the time of her death Mrs Heneghan and her husband Philip had been married 55 years. Philip Heneghan, aged 83, of Mallow, Co Cork, had sued the HSE over his wife’s death.

Family's claims

In the proceedings, it was claimed that when Mr Heneghan arrived at Mallow General Hospital on September 10, he was allegedly given the news of his wife’s death in a hospital lift by a nurse and he nearly passed out with shock.

Mrs Heneghan, who had been complaining of shortness of breath and had a swelling on her leg, was seen at Mallow General Hospital and kept in overnight on September 9, 2020.

It was claimed there was allegedly no assessment of Mrs Heneghan in relation to the probability of a blood clot by the admitting medical team at the hospital. It was contended if there had been such an assessment it would have become apparent there was a moderate to high risk of the pensioner developing a blood clot.

But for the alleged failure to consider pulmonary embolism as a possible diagnosis, it was claimed Mrs Heneghan would have survived.

It was claimed that a breathless patient presenting to a hospital emergency department needs to have a blood clot considered as part of the differential diagnosis and there was no documentation, it was alleged, that this was considered a possibility in Mrs Heneghan’s case.

It was further claimed that there was an alleged failure to deliver a reasonable and safe standard of care and an alleged failure to assess for the possibility of a blood clot and Mrs Heneghan had allegedly been deprived of the chance of survival.

It was further contended that the news of his wife’s sudden death had been conveyed in an alleged unprofessional manner causing Mr Henegan profound shock and distress. All of the claims were denied.

Noting the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to Mr Heneghan and the wider family.