A woman who claimed a misdiagnosis was made when she was first taken to hospital – and who two months later collapsed with a stroke – has settled her High Court action for €2.25m.
Mother-of-five Bridget Hughes (64) was brought to Tallaght Hospital in Dublin in January 2013 after collapsing in her kitchen with a severe, intractable headache and vomiting. It was claimed these symptoms should have been picked up and that it was a warning.Two months later, Ms Hughes, a former charity shop worker, suffered a full haemorrhage with a left-side stroke and left-side weakness.Dr John O’Mahony SC, for Ms Hughes, said it was their case that a “serious mistake” was made at Tallaght. The court heard that Ms Hughes has been cared for in a nursing home since the stroke and she has to use a wheelchair.
Ms Hughes, of Meile An Ri View, Lucan, Co Dublin, through her son, Jesse Ali Hughes, sued the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Tallaght over her care.
Liability was denied. It was claimed there was a failure at Tallaght Hospital to carry out a CT scan or a lumbar puncture so as to rule out inter-cranial bleeding.
It was claimed Ms Hughes was permitted to leave the hospital when she had allegedly been inadequately diagnosed and treated.
It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to diagnose a bleed, which then went on to a stroke, and that an inappropriate diagnosis of migraine and viral infection was made in January 2013.
The claims were denied.
The court was told that the Hughes family were very keen to bring Ms Hughes home and adapt the house to make it suitable for her.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross approved the settlement.
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