'I don't know how many years I have left to live': Woman hits out at hospital's 'disgusting' apology

Hospital apologised for 'the deficiencies in care' given to a woman on two occasions which led to a delay in the diagnosis of her brain tumour

Mary Keane, aged 49, was suffering from severe headaches when she underwent two brain MRI scans at University Hospital Galway (UHG) in 2013 and 2016, the High Court heard, but it was claimed these were misreported. Stock Picture

A hospital has apologised in court for “the deficiencies in care” given to a woman on two occasions which led to a delay in the diagnosis of her brain tumour.

Mary Keane, aged 49, was suffering from severe headaches when she underwent two brain MRI scans at University Hospital Galway (UHG) in 2013 and 2016, the High Court heard, but it was claimed these were misreported. 

The woman was not diagnosed with a brain tumour until she had another MRI scan in 2023.

Ms Keane’s counsel, Jonathan Kilfeather SC, instructed by solicitor Damien Tansey, told the court that if the brain tumour had been spotted in 2013 or 2016, Ms Keane could have had surgery. He said she would still have a terminal cancer diagnosis but her life would have been extended by five years.

The apology was read to the court as Ms Keane, from Westport, Co Mayo, settled a High Court action against the HSE.

In a letter read to the court, UHG apologised for failures in Ms Keane's care that led to a delay in the diagnosis of her brain tumour.

The letter was signed by hospital general manager Chris Kane.

It stated: “"We wish to acknowledge the upset and distress that this caused you. We deeply regret this and offer you our sincere apologies.” 

Outside court afterwards, Ms Keane, a wheelchair user, said she was distraught and devastated. “I don’t know how many years I have left to live. I can’t work, I can’t stay in the house on my own. I was let down. I was up and down to the hospital in Galway. I said I had a headache every single day,” she said.

She described the apology as “disgusting” but that “at least I got something".

The hospital apology came “a little too late", she said. 

Ms Keane had sued the HSE over her care at UHG. In 2005, she suffered a head injury when she hit her head off the pavement during an assault. She was seen at Mayo University Hospital and diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury and was treated for a scalp laceration.

From October 2005 to November 2006, Ms Keane complained of headaches and was referred to neurology in UHG.

A number of investigations were carried out, including a brain MRI scan in January 2013. It is claimed this scan was misreported, which suggested the lesion was established and probably related to trauma. It is claimed this would have misled the treating neurologists into believing that Ms Keane’s only issue related to features arising from her head injury in 2005. 

The scan, it is claimed, should have been reported as showing an incidental but very significant new brain lesion.

It was contended that had the January 2013 scan been correctly reported, Ms Keane would have been referred to neurosurgeons and had a surgical resection in March 2013.

A repeat MRI was planned but not performed until January 2016. It was claimed that the reporting of this 2016 scan fell below the standard of a competent general radiologist and an immediate referral for a neurological opinion should have been recommended.

Had the January 2016 scan been correctly reported, Ms Keane would have been referred to neurosurgeons in January 2016 and seen the following month, which would have led to surgery in March of that year, it was claimed.

In 2020, Ms Keane reported an episode of blurred vision and had up to 12 headache episodes a month. 

She continued to have periodic headaches but in 2023 she began to have more significant headaches.

 An MRI scan in 2023 showed the lesion had spread. Ms Keane was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where a brain biopsy was carried out. 

She was told the tumour was not suitable for surgical resection and instead she underwent radiotherapy.

Noting the settlement, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said Ms Keane had been through a very difficult time.