We acted for a client who was diagnosed with a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and it was recommended that he undergo surgery, a Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy.
Following the procedure our client was administered with an anticoagulant despite exhibiting signs of acute bleeding. The bleeding was not identified for four days resulting in our client developing abdominal sepsis and bowel ischemia. Our client underwent a further procedure to stop the bleeding and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator for 20 days. As a result, our client developed a number of complications from the delay in recognising the bleeding that would not have occurred otherwise including the requirement for an ileostomy.
We requested the relevant medical records. However, shortly before we received the records, our client was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer and had a very short life expectancy. Proceedings were issued in May and an application was made to the High Court for case management which was granted. A fast track timetable was agreed with the defendants’ solicitors with the case listed for hearing towards the end of July. The case settled for €125,000 plus costs in June.
