Two wives are to share 400,000 Euros laparotomy compensation following an out-of-court settlement between their legal representatives, insurers of St. James´s Hospital in Dublin and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Arjuna Rawlings (39) from Dublin brought the laparotomy compensation claim against the hospital and HSE following her husband´s wrongful death after a routine surgical procedure to gain access into the abdominal cavity. David Rawlings (40) died the day after the procedure had taken place due to complications with the surgery and vain attempts to resuscitate him.
St James´s Hospital and the HSE did not contest the claim for laparotomy compensation and it was due to go before Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns at the High Court for assessment of damages. However, shortly before the trial was due to commence, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns was told that an agreement had been reached and the case could be struck off.
In the settlement of Arjuna´s claim, she is to receive 250,000 Euros, while David´s previous wife – Fiona Rawlings, with whom David had a daughter – is to receive 150,000 Euros. This was agreed as David, who worked as an engineer, had been financially supporting Fiona and their daughter while being married to Arjuna.