Girl left injured at birth after ‘advice not followed’
Consultant had given ‘explicit instructions’
A TWIN girl was severely injured at birth when a consultant’s instructions were not followed, the High Court has heard.
Dr John O’Mahony SC, for the family, said consultant obstetrician Professor John Higgins had given ‘explicit instructions’ for Holly Corrigan and her sister to be delivered by C-section.
But he was not there for Holly’s birth and a registrar appeared to
‘Everything has been done for her’
be ‘in some panic’, so a C-section was not done, the court heard.
It was agreed that the HSE would pay €1.7million for the next five years to care for the child, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Holly’s mother, Victoria Campbell, from Ballinrea Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, had pains and her waters broke when she was just 27 weeks pregnant.
She went to Cork University Hospital at around 10.30pm on March 20, 2008, and was taken to the theatre, where the registrar seemed anxious that Prof Higgins had not arrived, the court was told. Mrs Campbell and her husband Michael Corrigan were worried for their twins, as it appeared medical staff did not have the necessary skills, the court heard.
Mrs Campbell was given an epidural. Holly’s heart rate was normal and she was delivered naturally at 11.33pm, but she was in flat condition, not breathing and with no heart rate.
She required considerable resuscitation, the court heard.
The registrar then appeared to make contact with Prof Higgins, and the second twin, Katie, was delivered by C-section.
It was claimed the twins were in a difficult position in the womb, and that this was not diagnosed or acted upon urgently. It was said the delay and extraction manoeuvres contributed to Holly’s neurological injuries, which were caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, and that hospital staff failed to seek appropriate expert advice.
She developed quadriplegic cerebral palsy, and will need extensive care for life. ‘Everything imaginable has been done by her parents to enhance her life, such as horse riding,’ Dr O’Mahony said. He said the twins’ prematurity was a factor in the case, and that the defence argued that even if she’d been born by C-section, Holly would still have sustained an injury.
The case had been settled on the basis of the HSE assuming 85% liability for her injuries, he said. Judge Kevin Cross approved the €1.72million settlement.