Cervical cancer scandal victim told to source own counselling
A WOMAN terminally ill with cervical cancer was told to source her own counselling when she looked for support from the HSE, the High Court heard.
At one stage, Ruth Morrissey, who is suing over the alleged misreading of her smear slides which were taken under the CervicalCheck screening programme, was “very low” but was told to source her own psychotherapy and furnish the receipts, the court was told.
Specialist care consultant Noreen Roche thought it was “appalling” that somebody like the 37-year-old mother, who has a maximum of two years to live, still had to source her own psychotherapy or psychological support.
Ms Roche was giving evidence in the continuing action by Ms Morrissey, who is suing the HSE and two US laboratories over the alleged misreading of her cervical smears in 2009 and 2012.
Ms Roche said the original plan was to put in support for the women but no such support had been put in place.
“They are told to source their own counselling and furnish the receipts,” she said.
“I think it is appalling for somebody in Ruth Morrissey’s condition that she still had to source psychotherapy or psychological counselling.
“Number one, she has no energy or the knowledge.”
She told the court she would have hoped the HSE would have sourced the appropriate person to provide counselling and psychotherapy.
“These women are left to their own devices to source all the support,” Ms Roche said.
She said Ms Morrissey is consumed with guilt that she can’t do normal activities with her daughter. She has pain in her right leg and needed to use the walls and furniture to help her get around.
Ms Morrissey and her husband Paul Morrissey, of Kylemore, Schoolhouse Road, Monaleen, Co Limerick, have sued the HSE and the US laboratory Quest Diagnostics Ireland Ltd with offices at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin, along with Medlab Pathology Ltd with offices at Sandyford Business Park, Dublin 18.
The HSE has admitted it owed a duty of care to Ms Morrissey but not her husband. The laboratories deny all the claims. The case continues.