The family of Miriam Jackson, who died in hospital in 2004 after a catalogue of medical errors, have been awarded 564,000 Euros in compensation for fatal medical negligence at Dublin High Court.
Miriam had been admitted to Our Lady´s Hospital in Navan in September 2004 with a small bowel obstruction however, as Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O´Neill at the High Court heard, symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath and a temperature of 38.2 degrees were overlooked. Even when an E coli infection was discovered, no treatment was provided until after it had developed into septicaemia, and a medical consultation requested by the surgical registrar failed to take place.
A compensation claim for fatal medical negligence was brought by Miriam´s husband, Derek, who also sued on behalf of his three children. The claim alleged over twenty instances of medical and hospital negligence and, after an internal investigation, Our Lady´s Hospital and the Health Service Executive admitted liability for Miriam´s wrongful death.
As the negligence responsible for Miriam´s death had been acknowledged, the case was before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O´Neill for assessment of damages only. Having considered the case and the psychological damage that Miriam´s husband and three children had endured, he awarded 564,000 Euros in compensation for fatal medical negligence to the family.