It took an astonishing 18 months to diagnose Melissa Hamilton’s breast cancer, and by then, it was too late.
Melissa was 34 at the time of her passing. She died in September 2011, nine days after giving birth to her third daughter.
During the court case that arose from this incident, Melissa’s partner Seamus Hamilton described the events leading up to her death. She first consulted her GP in 2009 complaining of a sore right breast. Melissa was only diagnosed with the disease on her third referral to a breast cancer clinic in Letterkenny General Hospital. She was pregnant with her third daughter at this point.
The baby girl was successfully delivered by emergency C-section. Melissa did see, but not touch, her newborn daughter. Nine days later, Melissa passed away.
Her family are now suing her GP and the HSE on foot on these events.