Family of Clare man who died after being given other patient's medicine settle action

John Mee, 71 Miltown Malbay County Clare who died after receiving an accidental overdose of another reisdent's medication while he was resident at Cahercalla Nursing Home, County Clare. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

The family of a man who was given an accidental overdose of medicine including two anti- psychotic drugs at a Co Clare nursing home and died later has settled a High Court action over his death.

Along with his own medicine, John Mee was given five other medications on June 24, 2021 at the Cahercalla Community Hospital, Ennis including two anti psychotic drugs, medication for heart pain, debilitating insomnia and an anti depressant which were meant for another patient.

The family’s counsel Doireann O’Mahony BL told the High Court it was their case the 71-year old from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare became increasingly unwell and drowsy but was not transferred to hospital for 18 hours.

Counsel said they would say the “die was cast” and Mr Mee in hospital was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and later found to be in respiratory failure. He died on June 30, 2021. Counsel said a breach of duty was admitted in the case.

The board of directors of Cahercalla Community Hospital, Ms O’Mahony added, had this month issued a letter of apology to the Mee family.

It said: “We apologise for the hurt and grief caused to John’s family for incorrectly administering the medication of another patient to him art Cahercalla Community Hospital resulting in his death.” 

 Outside court, Mr Mee’s two sisters, Bernadette Mee and Sr Gabriel Margaret Mee who had brought the case against Cahercalla Community Hospital Co Ltd said their brother had chosen a nursing home “thinking that would be the place he would get the ultimate care he needed".

Bernadette Mee on behalf of the family said it was “a sad state of affairs that such a thing could happen in a caring institution.”

She said the case was not about claiming anything, but “about sharing the story and being heard and listened to".

She said the apology does mean something.

“We have it in writing formally. It does mean something, it copper fastens it,’ Ms Mee said.

“It is a very emotional day but it is bittersweet because nothing can bring John back. We were all together on this journey and we have reached the end of the road . The only thing I can say is in this sad situation we had a marvellous legal team and support,” she added.

In the proceedings it was claimed the erroneous dispensing of medications placed Mr Mee at increased risk if respiratory decline and it was claimed it was ultimately the catalyst for his tragic death.

It was contended that sub-standard care had been provided to Mr Mee and there was a failure to dispense medications safely and correctly.

Mr Mee, it was claimed, had been overdosed and there was a failure to appreciate the importance of his decreasing oxygen levels and increased drowsiness particularly as he was an elderly man with several co morbidities.

It was claimed he was allowed to remain unwell for about 18 hours prior to his eventual transfer to University Hospital Limerick.

Medications it was claimed had been dispensed in error which ultimately resulted in Mr Mee’s respiratory decline and death.

Noting the settlement and approving the division of the €35,000 mental distress solatium payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to the Mee family and said it was a very sad and tragic case.

The Limerick coroner in the case two years ago delivered a verdict of medical misadventure and said the medication error was a catalyst in the events that led to John Mee’s death.

The inquest heard that “extra checks” were since put in place at the nursing home in respect of the administration of medication to residents, which included a “photograph” of the resident beside their room number and medication chart.