Woman whose uterus was damaged settles her case against menopause clinic

A WOMAN has described her ‘nightmare experience’ of a routine menopause treatment that went badly wrong, in a bid to spare other women the same trauma.

Elaine Mooney, 54, had to undergo emergency surgery after a Mirena coil perforated her uterus.

She has settled her case with the clinic The Menopause Hub for what her lawyers described as a ‘substantial sum’ and a public apology was read out before Judge Paul Coffey in the High Court yesterday.

Ms Mooney, of Grattan Lodge, Balgriffin, Dublin, had sued the clinic in Mount Merrion, Dublin, for negligence and breach of duty.

The allegations concerned a series of events which took place during, and as a result of, a relatively routine procedure to have a Mirena intrauterine system – known as a coil – inserted in April, 2021. She claimed she had suffered physical and psychological trauma when the poorly inserted coil penetrated her uterus and entered her pelvic cavity.

She had to undergo an emergency laparoscopy procedure under general anaesthetic at a hospital to have the device located and removed.

Her claims were denied, but in an apology read out in the High Court, representatives from The Menopause Hub stated: ‘We apologise for the pain, suffering, discomfort and inconvenience experienced by you while attending The Menopause Hub.’

They added: ‘We acknowledge that the treatment which you received caused you distress and we regret the pain and discomfort you experienced.’

In a statement issued after the case was ruled, Ms Mooney said: ‘In bringing this case and sharing my nightmare experience so publicly, I hope that other women will be spared such a trauma.

‘I never imagined that a routine procedure t o treat the symptoms of menopause would go so badly wrong. I knew there was a serious problem, but my concerns and complaints of the immense pain I felt were ignored and dismissed. I left the clinic distressed and in pain, only to need emergency surgery a few days later.’ Ms Mooney added: ‘I hope that lessons can be learned from the treatment that I received from The Menopause Hub who had maintained that the perforation of my uterus was a normal risk with this procedure.

‘Women should be aware that they do not have to accept this excuse should something occur with their treatment.’