€5.9million award for man left blind after brain op
Judge labels blunder ‘catastrophic’
A MAN was awarded €5.9million yesterday after a brain operation blunder left him blind.
A shunt which had been in Brendan Doyle’s brain since childhood was removed at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in 2011.
But it was not re-inserted and had “tragic consequences” for the 49-year-old who has cerebral palsy and mild learning disabilities.
His counsel Denis Mccullough said it was the “final straw” and he has lived in a nursing home ever since.
Approving the settlement Mr Justice Cross said the blunder was “catastrophic” and added the award will look after Mr Doyle for the rest of his life.
He noted the hospital had admitted liability and had taken a reasonable approach in relation to the future accommodation needs of Mr Doyle, who will now be able to leave the nursing home in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
Through his brother John Doyle, he sued the Beaumont Hospital.
In a statement read outside the High Court by his solicitor Michael Boylan, he said the family felt aggrieved liability was only admitted in January. He added: has wasted almost seven years of his life in a nursing home with no effective rehabilitation programme, surrounded by elderly patients and having to wait for a call bell to be answered just so he can use the bathroom.
“Before this, he required supervision only rather than care. Brendan was an active and contributing member of his community.” On June 1, 2011, Mr Doyle complained of a headache and vomiting and went to his local hospital in Wexford where he had a scan and was referred to Beaumont.
It was claimed that due to a suspicion the plaintiff had a shunt-related infec“brendan tion, it was removed a few days later and it was decided it was not necessary to re-establish the shunt.
Mr Doyle was discharged from Beaumont Hospital on June 10, 2011 with directions to continue antibiotics. He left his local hospital on June 16, 2011.
But the next day he was back in A&E complaining of increased weakness and he had a CT scan.
Mr Doyle was referred back to outpatients at Beaumont Hospital and in August his case was reviewed and the impression was formed that his condition was improving and another CT scan was recommended for December.
In early September 2011, it is claimed Mr Doyle suffered a loss of vision and was referred back to Beaumont for surgery. Notwithstanding the reinsertion of the shunt, he lost his eyesight.
The Doyle family said the settlement will provide Brendan with a purposebuilt home of his own and the 24-hour support he now needs.
Brendan wasted seven years of his life in a nursing home
JOHN DOYLE
HIGH COURT DUBLIN YESTERDAY