A woman in her 80s has received a formal apology in the High Court after her throat was perforated during a gastroscopic procedure at Sligo University Hospital. The hospital acknowledged the severe impact the incident has had on Kathleen Healy, describing the consequences as “life-changing.”
Ms. Healy, an 82-year-old from Rathedmond, Sligo, settled her personal injury claim against the Health Service Executive (HSE) on Tuesday. Prior to the procedure in July 2022, Ms. Healy had been living independently, only seeking medical advice for persistent pain and heartburn. The diagnostic procedure resulted in a perforation that has significantly altered her quality of life.
During the gastroscopy, Ms. Healy was sedated, but complications arose when blood was observed oozing from her mouth and nose, forcing the surgical registrar to halt the procedure. She was urgently transferred to intensive care and later moved to Galway University Hospital, where a specialised cardio-thoracic team diagnosed a throat perforation and infection. Despite nearly a month in intensive care, Ms. Healy’s throat could not be fully repaired, leaving her reliant on tube feeding through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).
The injury necessitated her move to a nursing home in February 2023, separating her from her family home and her late husband’s grave. Ms. Healy claimed the injury was the result of negligence and a breach of duty by the HSE.
In court, Sligo University Hospital and the HSE extended a “sincere apology” for the complications during the procedure. Senior Counsel Liam Reidy, representing Ms. Healy, noted that she accepted the apology and expressed forgiveness toward the registrar involved. However, Mr. Reidy also highlighted her distress over the hospital’s initial intention to discharge her after the failed procedure.
Although the settlement’s terms remain confidential, Ms. Healy’s daughter, Siobhán Brosnan, spoke outside the court about the emotional and physical toll on her mother over the past two years. She expressed gratitude for the apology but described the delay in resolution as “horrific.”
“My mum is 82, but she has so many ambitions and plans. She’s not someone who just sits in a room—she wants to live,” Ms. Brosnan shared, adding that the settlement would help cover the cost of additional therapies and care.
The case underscores the profound consequences medical errors can have on patients and their families.
