Latest news with #EstherFlynn
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Family ask attorney general to order an inquest following settlement of High Court case over woman's death
The family of a woman who was allegedly prescribed an excessive dose of blood-thinning medication at University Hospital Waterford and later died have asked the Attorney General to direct a coroner to hold an inquest. The call came as Esther Flynn's husband Joe settled a High Court action against the HSE over her death. Lawyers for her family told the court on Tuesday how her death, at the age of 54, was 'totally unnecessary'. Aidan Walsh SC said Ms Flynn suffered a brain haemorrhage and died on May 26th, 2022. READ MORE The claims were denied. The settlement, which was reached after mediation, was without admission of liability. Mr Walsh said the fact that there was no apology forthcoming caused great upset to the Flynn family. He said the family's solicitor had asked for an open disclosure meeting and was 'effectively ignored'. In the proceedings, it was claimed that Ms Flynn had been prescribed an excessive dose of blood-thinning medication and there was an alleged failure to prescribe the woman with a correct dose of the drug in accordance with her weight. Outside court, the family's solicitor, John Whelan, said the family has made an application to the Attorney General under the Coroners Act, seeking an inquest based on medical evidence including new reports from a consultant physician and a consultant haematologist. He said the family welcomed progress in their case through mediation, but said they were saddened there was no legal mechanism for the court to require an apology 'even in cases where the emotional and human need for one is clear'. 'They hope this case will serve as a reminder of the importance of patient safety, full disclosures and dignity for families. They also hope that this will not happen again to another family,' he said. He said Ms Flynn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter to a close and loving family. Her family, he said, remained deeply distressed by the absence of 'any meaningful explanation or acknowledgment the hospital since her passing'. Joe Flynn, of New Ross, Co Wexford, had sued the HSE over the death of his wife. Ms Flynn had been admitted to University Hospital Waterford on April 29th, 2022, following a seizure and facial droop. She had a CAT scan and an MRI scan of her brain and which were noted as unremarkable, but investigations revealed lymphoma, a cancer. She was discharged on May 16th, but was readmitted two days later due to her health condition. On May 22nd, 2022, it was noted she had not been started on blood-thinning medication since her admission, but due to her immobility and previous deep vein thrombosis a decision was made that she was at high risk of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot. A prescription was decided upon. On May 24th she had a reduced level of consciousness, and a CAT scan showed an acute cranial bleed. Her condition deteriorated and she died on May 26th. In the proceedings it was claimed Ms Flynn had been prescribed an incorrect dosage of the blood-thinning medication and was allegedly prescribed an excessive dose. It was further alleged Ms Flynn had not been weighed and an alleged unsubstantiated prescription of the drug had been based on an estimate of her weight. All the claims were denied. Noting the settlement and the division of the €35,000 statutory mental distress payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to the family.
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Family ask Attorney General to direct inquest into death of mother (54) as they settle action against HSE
The family of a woman who, it was alleged, was prescribed an excessive dose of blood-thinning medication at University Hospital Waterford and later died has asked the Attorney General to direct that an inquest take place into her death. The call came as Esther Flynn's grieving husband settled a High Court action against the HSE over her death three years ago. Advertisement Esther Flynn, the family's counsel, Aidan Walsh SC, told the court was only 54 years of age at the time of her death. Counsel said it was their case that Ms Flynn's death was 'totally unnecessary', and it involved the alleged over-prescribing of an anti-coagulant blood-thinning medication. Counsel said Ms Flynn suffered a brain haemorrhage and died on May 26th, 2022. The claims were denied, and the settlement, which was reached after mediation, is without an admission of liability. Mr Walsh said the fact that there was no apology forthcoming caused great upset to the Flynn family. He said the family's solicitor had asked for an 'open disclosure meeting and was 'effectively ignored.' Advertisement In the proceedings, it was claimed that Ms Flynn had been prescribed an excessive dose of blood-thinning medication and there was an alleged failure to prescribe the woman with a correct dose of the drug in accordance with her weight. Outside court, the family solicitor, John Whelan of Whelan Law, said the family has made an application to the Attorney General under the Coroners Act, seeking an inquest based on available medical evidence, including new expert reports from a consultant physician and a consultant haematologist. He said while the family welcomed progress in their case through mediation, they are saddened that there is currently no legal mechanism for the court to require an apology 'even in cases where the emotional and human need for one is clear". 'They hope this case will serve as a reminder of the importance of patient safety, full disclosures and dignity for families. They also hope that this will not happen again to another family,' he said. Advertisement He said Ms Flynn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter to a close and loving family. Her family, he said, remains deeply distressed by the absence of 'any meaningful explanation or acknowledgement from the hospital since her passing.' Joe Flynn of New Ross, Co Wexford, had sued the HSE over the death of his wife. Esther Flynn had been admitted to University Hospital Waterford on April 29th, 2022, following a seizure and facial droop. She had a CT scan and an MRI scan of her brain and which were noted as unremarkable, but investigations revealed lymphoma. She was discharged on May 16th, but was readmitted two days later due to her health condition. Advertisement On May 22nd, 2022, it was noted that she had not been commenced on blood thinning medication since her admission, but due to her immobility and previous deep vein thrombosis in the past, a decision was made that she was at high risk of a pulmonary embolism. A prescription was decided upon, and on May 24th, she had a reduced level of consciousness, and a CT scan showed an acute intracranial bleed. Her condition deteriorated, and she died on May 26th. In the proceedings, it was claimed that Ms Flynn had been prescribed an incorrect dosage of the blood-thinning medication and was allegedly prescribed an excessive dose. It was further alleged that Ms Flynn had not been weighed, and an alleged unsubstantiated prescription of the drug had been based on an estimate of her weight. All of the claims were denied. Noting the settlement and the division of the €35,000 statutory mental distress payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to the family.
