Portiuncula University Hospital has issued an apology to the family of a woman who died from cervical cancer, admitting that there had been a missed opportunity to detect her illness sooner, which ultimately contributed to her death.
Maria Fitzpatrick, aged 38, from Collinstown, Co Westmeath, died from complications related to cervical cancer on 13 March 2009 at St Luke’s Hospital in Dublin, reports RTE.
She was survived by her husband, Kevin Fitzpatrick, and their four children.
“We are sorry this occurred. We understand that this statement cannot change or negate your loss, but we wish to convey our deepest sympathies” the statement from Portiuncula University Hospital said, which was read out in court, reports RTE.
It was heard in court that two of Ms Fitzpatrick’s smear tests, taken in 2004 and 2005, had been incorrectly reported.
Senior Counsel Liam Reidy told the court that if Ms Fitzpatrick had been referred for further examinations at the time, there was a possibility that an early-stage cancer could have been cured and that “she would be alive today”, reports RTE.
The court was told that Kevin Fitzpatrick began investigating the circumstances of his wife’s death after the case of the late Vicky Phelan became public.
Members of Ms Fitzpatrick’s family, including her husband and three surviving sons, were present in court to hear the hospital’s apology, reports RTE.
Mr Fitzpatrick said that while the day brought a sense of closure, it did not bring life back or “doesn’t bring back mother to their little kids”, reports RTE.
The financial details of the settlement were not disclosed in court.
In September 2004, Ms Fitzpatrick visited her GP for a routine smear test, which was sent for analysis to Portiuncula Hospital, reports RTE.
Two months later, the hospital recommended that a repeat smear be taken after abnormal cells were detected.
The family’s legal representatives argued that there had been a clear breach of duty in how the slide was reported, noting that the sample was sufficient for a referral to colposcopy, according to court documents, reports RTE.
A follow-up smear was taken in March 2005, which showed a negative result.
However, the legal claim stated that “on the balance of probabilities” a referral for further investigation “would have led to the detection of cervical cancer,” according to the documents, reports RTE.
In 2006, Ms Fitzpatrick returned to her GP complaining of abnormal bleeding and was referred to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, where she was seen in February 2007.
She was subsequently diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer, reports RTE.
Ms Fitzpatrick passed away in March 2009 at St Luke’s Hospital in Rathgar, Dublin.
The court heard that an earlier referral for examinations such as a colposcopy would likely have resulted in the detection of cervical cancer, reports RTE.
In a statement, the Fitzpatrick family said they also wanted to honour the memory of their son and brother, Darren, who was described as a “real mammy’s boy”. They said Darren struggled after his mother’s death and died by suicide nine years later, reports RTE.
The family said that Ms Fitzpatrick’s passing left a deep void and raised difficult questions about accountability, safety, and the duty of care owed to all patients.
“We carry Maria and Darren’s memory forward by continuing to stand for truth, for safe medical practice and for systems that ensure preventable tragedies are not repeated,” the statement said, reports RTE.
“It is our fervent wish that no other family is forced to pursue the same legal route that we have endured, that lessons,” reports RTE.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the Fitzpatrick family, describing their experience as a “double tragedy”, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
