Letterkenny University Hospital has apologised in the High Court to a man whose leg had to be amputated after he went into hospital for an angiogram. In the letter to 77-year-old Hugh McElroy, a retired construction worker from Burtonport in Co Donegal, the hospital's general manager said the care afforded to him in 2014 and 2015 was not to a standard that they would have hoped or expected.
Sean Murphy told Mr McElroy that he apologised unreservedly for the quality of care he received and acknowledged the devastating impact this had on his life. He said he recognised that nothing he or any of the team could say could make up for the impact on Mr McElroy's quality of life and on his family.
Have a question about Workplace Accidents, Medical Negligence or Personal Injury? Contact us on 087 2285247 or law@petermcdonnell.ie
Mr McElroy went into Letterkenny University Hospital in September 2014 for an angiogram - a procedure where a tube is inserted into the groin and threaded up to the heart to check the blood vessels He developed a blood clot at the site where the angiogram had been inserted and was readmitted to hospital in Letterkenny where his condition worsened. He and his family claimed he did not receive proper medical attention and was not treated appropriately.
By the time he was transferred to University Hospital Galway, on 14 October 2014, he was in poor condition and had to undergo surgery. He subsequently underwent further surgeries and treatment. But in September 2015, a decision was made to amputate his leg. Details of the settlement made with Mr McElroy were not revealed in court.
Financial Blueprint of a Medical Negligence Case
Medical Negligence and personal injury cases are often a topic of conversation in Ireland. A case is built on the strength of expert reports and testimony. The ancillary costs are driven up by lack of access to salient medical records and details. This further underlines the need for mandatory disclosure and the need for patients to have live access to their own updated medical records.
At Peter McDonnell & Associates we know from experience that the single greatest cause of worry for clients is the issue of legal fees and costs. People worry that before a case commences or at the end of their case, they will be presented with a large legal bill that will be impossible to pay.
Have a question about Workplace Accidents, Medical Negligence or Personal Injury? Contact us on 087 2285247 or law@petermcdonnell.ie
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or a proportion of any award or settlement.