A Co Donegal woman who developed life-threatening sepsis after being discharged from Letterkenny University Hospital after having her first child has settled her Medical Negligence claim against the HSE.
Caroline Cunningham from Strabrinna, Kilcar, attended Letterkenny University Hospital in March 2016 to deliver her first child Emma.
Caroline and her baby were discharged from the hospital on the 3rd of April 2016, however, Caroline became acutely unwell and was returned to Letterkenny Hospital by urgent ambulance transfer on the 5th of April 2016. Caroline was suffering from severe pain and her C-section scar was red and inflamed. Caroline had developed a very severe and deep-seated wound infection. Caroline spent a total of 39 days in the hospital with some of that in ICU as her condition had deteriorated to such an extent that she developed life-threatening sepsis. She underwent numerous surgeries to drain her wound.
Caroline issued proceedings in 2018 against Letterkenny University Hospital through her Solicitor, Jolene McElhinney of McElhinney & Associates Solicitors, Stranorlar, having received an expert opinion from a Microbiologist that Letterkenny University Hospital was negligent in her care due to their failure to give antibiotics at the time of C-section and for thereafter, failing to identify the correct antibiotics to stop the infection in its tracks. For days Letterkenny University Hospital tried numerous antibiotics to try and stop the infection. Caroline’s experts were able to give their opinion that the antibiotics chosen by Letterkenny Hospital were absolutely incorrect in the circumstances and could never have stopped the infection in its tracks. This delay meant that Caroline’s condition developed into severe sepsis, a life-threatening condition and she remained in hospital without her new daughter who was at home being cared for by her husband and by family members.
Caroline’s severe sepsis led to further complications with her lungs. Caroline developed pneumonia, empyema infection, and bilateral pleural effusions. The experts instructed in Caroline’s case were able to connect her respiratory complications directly to the sepsis that she had developed. Caroline had to undergo numerous plural taps which is an extremely painful procedure to remove fluid from her lungs. Caroline describes the fluid in her lungs as a feeling of a huge weight on her chest. While Caroline continued to recover from her sepsis, she was completely breathless due to the fluid on her lungs and often could not sleep at night and had to sleep in an armchair due to the weight of the fluid on her chest.
The HSE fully defended Caroline’s claim right up until December 2020 when they finally admitted liability.
Caroline’s case was listed to be heard, as one of the first remote hearings in the Country on Tuesday the 9th of March 2020, and ultimately the HSE settled Caroline’s claim for an undisclosed sum.
If you feel that you have been the victim of medical negligence, contact McElhinney & Associates Solicitors today at (074) 9175989 or email us at admin@mcelhinneyassocaites.com
Article adopted from the following source, Donegal Women Settles Medical Negligence Claim against the HSE
*in contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award of settlement.
**this information is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice, professional or legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this publication. No liability is accepted by McElhinney & Associates for any action taken in reliance on the information contained herein. Any and all information is subject to change.
