Michael Boylan Litigation Law Firm has secured a during surgery, which was further complicated by a delay in diagnosing and treating the injury.
Our client was diagnosed with gallstone disease and referred to St. Vincent’s University Hospital for surgery to remove her gallbladder.
Following the surgery, our client was discharged from hospital on the same day, despite being visibly unwell and requiring wheelchair assistance to mobilise to her car.
Two days later, she was rushed to her local Emergency Department with severe abdominal pain. A CT scan was performed, and she was commenced on intravenous antibiotics. The following day, she was transferred back to St. Vincent’s University Hospital, where she underwent a laparoscopy. However, the bowel injury was not identified during this procedure.
Over the following four days, our client continued to experience significant abdominal pain and underwent numerous investigations, including multiple CT scans. Eventually, a further urgent laparoscopy was undertaken due to a suspected bowel injury. This procedure was converted to a laparotomy, during which the bowel perforation was finally identified and repaired.
It was our position that the bowel injury occurred during the original surgery because of a failure to exercise the requisite skill and care, including the use of excessive force. We further maintained that the perforation should have been diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage.
An earlier diagnosis and treatment, it was argued, would have avoided our client’s prolonged pain and suffering and the need for the subsequent urgent laparotomy.
Liability was fully defended. However, the case ultimately settled at mediation for €450,000 plus legal costs, immediately prior to the hearing.
The settlement included compensation for pain and suffering, psychiatric injury, retrospective and future care.
The settlement provides compensation for the significant physical and psychological impact experienced by our client, including the additional treatment and care required following the bowel injury and its delayed diagnosis.
