Background

Brigid McDonnell, a retired nurse, brought a medical negligence action against the HSE after she suffered serious complications following routine hiatal hernia surgery at Mayo University Hospital in 2016.

Following the surgery, she began to show signs of severe infection and sepsis, but there were delays in recognising and treating her deteriorating condition.

🚨 Key Allegations

• Failure to adequately monitor her post-operative condition.

• Delay in recognising signs of peritonitis and septic shock.

• Delay in ordering a CT scan and performing further surgery.

• Breach of duty in post-operative care and communication.

📋 Court Findings

• The court found that there was a clear and significant delay in the diagnosis and treatment of her infection.

• Expert evidence showed her deterioration should have been detected sooner, and intervention could have reduced the extent of her injury.

• The hospital breached its duty of care through delayed investigation and treatment.

🧠 Impact on the Patient

Ms McDonnell was left with long-term, life-altering physical injuries, including chronic pain and mobility issues. She had to give up hobbies, and her independence was significantly reduced.

💬 Quote from the Judgment

“The failures of care… amounted to a breach of the hospital’s duty to act promptly and reasonably in the face of a known and worsening post-operative infection.”

🧾 Result

The High Court awarded €500,000 in damages to Ms McDonnell to reflect:

• Pain and suffering (past and future)

• Loss of amenity

• Future care and assistance needs

📚 Legal Significance

This case highlights:

• The importance of vigilant post-operative monitoring.

• How delays—even after seemingly routine surgery—can amount to actionable negligence.

• The court’s willingness to hold healthcare providers accountable for failures in escalation and timely response.