HSE and hospital apology for 'errors' which led to death of woman

A cancer patient admitted to Cavan General Hospital with dehydration who died the following day did so after what was in the High Court yesterday as a 'catalogue of errors'

In a statement read to the court, the Health Service Executive and Cavan General Hospital apologised unreservedly to the family of Crosskeys woman Eileen Brady (65) over the failings in her care and treatment which ultimately led to her 'untimely death'.

'We apologise for the subsequent grief, hurt and stress suffered by her immediate family and her friends including her sons, daughter, brothers, sisters and grandchildren.'

Counsel for the HSE, Declan Buckley read the statement as part of the settlement of the family's action against the health authority arising from the mother-of-five’s death in January 2010.

In a statement read in court on behalf of the family, her son Aidan Brady said: 'We realise our mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer and we acknowledge the severity of this condition.

“However, she should have received the proper care that any person is entitled to instead of the inhumane treatment she received in the hours prior to her death.'

He said the family hoped Cavan General Hospital and the HSE has learned from 'the grave mistakes made in this case', and that no other family would 'have to go through the trauma and distress that we have suffered.'

Elsewhere in the statement he explained that the Brady family had decided to pursue their case due to 'a lot of confusion and unanswered questions' after their mother's sudden death.

'Through our family bond and the support of our close relations, we have given each other the strength to follow this issue to this conclusion today,' he said.

Another son, Martin Brady, had on behalf of the family, also sued the HSE for mental distress and damage arising from the death of their mother.

Mrs Brady had been suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatment at a Dublin hospital in 2009. On January 5, 2010 she was referred to Cavan General Hospital by her GP. She had mouth ulcers and poor fluid intake and was to be treated for dehydration.

The treatment she was given proved ineffective and her veins had collapsed, it was explained in court.

There were many things that could have been done but her chart was not read, senior doctors were not sought to address the matter and there was no liaison with the Dublin hospital where Mrs Brady was being treated for her cancer, counsel for the family Bruce Antoniotti added.

There was a 'catalogue of errors' and Mrs Brady suffered multiorgan failure and died on January 6.

Had the case proceeded, and not been settled, Mr Antoniotti said the Brady family would have moved to call upon expert evidence that the dehydration suffered by the Cavan woman was reversible, but went untreated.

Liability had been admitted, he said.

Ms Justice Mary Irvine extended her sympathy to the family.