St James Hospital apologises to mother over delayed breast cancer diagnosis

St James Hospital in Dublin has apologised for care failings provided to a mother of two who required a mastectomy while seven months pregnant, the Irish Examiner reported. Seanagh Rice, aged 33, took a High Court case against the hospital over an alleged delay in diagnosing her invasive breast cancer. Her counsel, Michael Delaney SC, told the court about the failings in her medical care. [1]

According to the Irish Examiner, Ms Rice also required chemotherapy treatment after the birth of her baby. She stated that instead of enjoying those precious months with her newborn baby, she was undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatment. She had been attending St James Hospital for reviews prior to the diagnosis. [1]

The Irish Examiner reported that Ms Rice carried the BRCA 2 breast cancer gene variant. Her mother had previously died from breast cancer at 48 years of age. Cian O Carroll Solicitors instructed her legal counsel during the High Court proceedings. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Dublin High Court medical negligence actions involving delayed diagnoses have previously resulted in substantial settlements. The Health Service Executive recently agreed to an interim settlement in a separate case involving delayed diagnosis at a regional hospital. [4]