St James’s Hospital in Dublin has issued a proper apology for the medical errors that led to the loss of life of 53-year-old Martin Staines, who suffered a deadly allergic response after a steroid injection. The settlement, reached after a authorized case that took practically a decade to settle, ends a tragic case involving a father of 5 whose loss of life was described by his household as fully preventable.
The incident occurred on July 31, 2015, when Staines sought remedy for a persistent ankle harm from a fall years earlier. In the course of the process, he acquired a steroid injection that contained polyethylene glycol (PEG), a substance he was identified to be severely allergic to. Based on his authorized counsel, Michael Counihan SC, the hospital ought to have identified concerning the allergy. Staines went into shock shortly after the injection and later died, inflicting shock and misery to his household.
The Excessive Courtroom heard that the hospital did not correctly report or evaluate Staines’ documented allergy historical past. The authorized declare highlighted a major lapse in care, together with a failure to obviously record and report all substances to which he was allergic. The court docket was additionally advised that Staines had beforehand suffered an allergic response to a PEG-containing steroid remedy.
In a letter of apology learn to the court docket by Declan Buckley SC, the hospital expressed deep remorse over the lack of life. The letter acknowledged: “The lack of your husband is deeply regretted by all employees and administration on the hospital, particularly those that have been concerned in his care.” The hospital added: “We apologise for the failings that led to the loss of life of Mr Staines… we’re actually sorry for the ache and misery prompted to you.”
Lorraine Staines, the widow of the deceased, paid tribute to her husband of 35 years, describing him as her “finest good friend” and a “large presence” who introduced laughter and like to these round him. She advised Justice Paul Coffey that her husband died from “an allergy that was properly documented,” and stated the loss of life “ought to have been fully preventable.”
The household additionally spoke of the emotional toll of ready years for authorized decision. Mrs Staines described the “overwhelming grief” of reliving the occasions of that day over a decade. She expressed hope that the end result would possibly result in enhancements in hospital techniques in order that different households wouldn’t expertise the same loss.
Whereas the phrases of the settlement stay confidential, the Excessive Courtroom accredited a €35,000 ($40,000) cost for psychological misery. Justice Coffey expressed sympathy for the household and described the circumstances as an uncommon and tragic case that resulted in an avoidable lack of life.
Our ideas are with Mrs. Staines and her household, who waited greater than ten years for his or her case to be heard in court docket. We hope the judgment gives them some closure.
Should you or a cherished one wants medical remedy and has a extreme allergy to a meals, a drug, an environmental substance reminiscent of latex, or insect venom, be sure to have a printed record of your allergens prepared for medical employees once you arrive. Being ready might help forestall unlikely tragedies.
