Ban medical gagging orders - Adrienne Cullen

One of the empowering themes of 2018 was the determination of people poorly treated by the health system to insist on higher standards of transparency and accountability.

This focus on clearer, more reliable communication between patients, doctors, and hospitals has the potential to change the intimidating culture that still shapes some doctor-patient relationships in a very positive way.

This process of change is not confined to Ireland as Adrienne Cullen, who died aged 58 on Monday in the Netherlands, proved in her last years. In 2011, Ms Cullen, after a series of tests, was wrongly told she was healthy. A review two years later showed that a mistake had been made and further tests in 2015 diagnosed terminal cancer.

An independent review concluded that if the test result had not been lost, Ms Cullen would have had a 95% to 98% chance of survival. The hospital admitted liability and compensation was paid but a gagging order was attached.

To her, and her partner Peter Cluskey’s eternal credit, Ms Cullen fought that veto and initiated a campaign to ban such forced silences. It is impossible not to admire the selflessness shown by those facing an inevitable conclusion to insist on changes that might have a very positive impact for others but little or none for themselves.

Adrienne Cullen was one such person and her life and premature death should be marked by outlawing gagging orders in all cases of medical negligence.