Significant out-of-court settlement achieved by Cantillons Solicitors arising from the delayed diagnosis and treatment of a bowel obstruction

Aisling Maher and Orla Kelly of the Medical Negligence acted on behalf of a lady who attended the Defendant Hospital, when she was 36 weeks pregnant with twins, complaining of tenderness in the right side of her abdomen, vomiting, severe pain in her abdomen, back and pelvis and constipation. No clear diagnosis was reached and ultimately, it was decided to deliver the twins by caesarean section. During the course of the caesarean section yellow fluid (representing an inflammatory process) in the abdomen was detected,but the significance of this fluid was not appreciated adequately. Post-operatively, the lady’s condition deteriorated but the Obstetric doctors failed to recognise the warning signs and did not act or refer her to the Surgical Team on a timely basis. While abdominal x-rays were undertaken subsequently, there were delays in reporting upon their findings, namely a bowel obstruction. Ultimately, by the time the scans were read and acted upon, the lady had deteriorated to such an extent that her bowel had perforated and she had developed abdominal sepsis. Consequently, and as a result of the Defendant Hospital’s delay in diagnosis,  the lady required an emergency laparotomy, double barrell colostomy and a prolonged admission to the Intensive Care Unit for treatment for her abdominal sepsis, coagulopathy, multiple pulmonary embolisms and a right ulnar artery occlusion. The lady has endured a lengthy and difficult recovery, both physically and psychologically.  The delay in diagnosis and the fallout from same has severely impacted on many of aspects of her life, including her ability to return to work.

The case was vigorously defended for a number of years until a significant settlement was reached out of Court, shortly before trial, for this deserving lady and her family.

 Contact us at Cantillons Solicitors at +353 (0)21 -4275673 or info@cantillons.com if you would like more information.

* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.