St Vincent's apologises to widow of man who died day after surgery
By Ann O'Loughlin
St Vincent’s University Hospital, has apologised in court to the widow and family of a patient who died in the hospital for any shortcomings in his care as they today settled a High Court action for €150,000.
63-year old William Clarke's life was cut short and his family are very concerned about what happened at the hospital, his counsel Dr John O'Mahony SC today told the High Court.
Counsel told Mr Justice Kevin Cross St Vincent’s University Hospital had issued an apology in the case which he read to the court.
“St Vincent’s University Hospital, would like to offer its apologies to Mrs Breda Clarke and family, and the family of Mr William Clarke, for any shortcomings in the care and treatment of the late Mr William Clarke whilst a patient of St Vincent’s Hospital that caused or contributed to his untimely death.”
Dr John O Mahony SC told the court is was a very sad case in which liability was conceded.
Counsel said Mr Clarke had been unwell for a number of years and was admitted to St Vincent’s University Hospital in September 2013 complaining of abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. He had a CT scan which showed colitis and he was treated with antibiotics and steroids and discharged home on October 14, 2013.
Mr Clarke was readmitted to the hospital on October 29, 2013 and the clinical picture was a new diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. He was treated with antibiotics and steroids but he clinically deteriorated on November 21, 2013 and was brought to the operating theatre and a laparotomy was performed.
Counsel said Mr Clarke died the next day.
Mrs Breda Clarke, Mackintosh Park, Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin had sued the Dublin hospital over the death of her husband William at St Vincent’s Hospital on November 22, 2013.
It was claimed there was a failure to clinically examine, assess, diagnose and treat Mr Clarke in any competent manner.
It was also claimed a standard of care was provided to Mr Clarke which was inadequate and unreasonable and below the standard Mr Clarke was entitled to expect. It was further claimed there was a failure to perform a laparotomy or surgical exploration in a timely manner and a failure to diagnose and treat bowel ischaemia in a timely manner or at all.
Approving the settlement Mr Justice Cross offered sincere sympathy to the Clarke family on their sad loss and he noted the apology would provide some comfort to some members of the family.
