Delay inaction by HSE revealed concerning elderly man's swallowed dentures, eliciting a public apology
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued an apology for a week-long delay in acting on an X-ray showing a potential blockage caused by swallowed dentures in the throat of a 91-year-old man, Daniel O'Leary, at Kanturk Community Hospital in Co Cork. This delay in diagnosis and treatment contributed to Mr. O'Leary's death from choking complications.
On July 26, 2022, Mr. O'Leary, a resident at Kanturk Community Hospital, started coughing and complained about something stuck in his throat. He was promptly taken to University Hospital Limerick for assessment, where paramedics informed doctors he may have inhaled a denture.
An X-ray carried out on his arrival at the hospital on July 26th showed no evidence of the dentures or any foreign body. However, a chest X-ray reported on July 30th revealed "densities in the upper neck, likely reflecting a foreign body." Despite this finding, the hospital did not act on this information for a week, delaying necessary medical intervention.
On August 3rd, nursing staff carried out a suctioning procedure on Mr. O'Leary and detected dentures in the lowest part of his throat. An ENT team removed the dentures from Mr. O'Leary on August 4th, nine days after he was taken to the hospital.
Mr. O'Leary's condition continued to deteriorate physically, and his care became palliative. He was moved back to Kanturk Community Hospital where he died peacefully on August 12th. A diagnosis of respiratory sepsis was made on a background of likely aspiration due to impaired swallow.
The HSE has acknowledged the failings in care involved and has implemented a recommendation identified by the coroner regarding Mr. O'Leary's death. In a statement, the HSE said, "We wish to apologise for the failings in the care provided and for the distress and upset that this has caused."
Eamon Shanahan, representing the family, confirmed they received an apology from the HSE. Ms. Justice Carmel Stewart approved a €55,000 award to the family of Daniel O'Leary on Wednesday at the High Court sitting in Cork. She also extended her condolences to Mr. O'Leary's family, acknowledging the trauma they endured.
Ms. Justice Stewart remarked, "Your father had a long and fruitful life. There is never a good time to lose a loved one, or to endure the trauma he endured. It doesn't bear thinking about. Hopefully, you can put this behind you and reflect on the good times."
The HSE has emphasized its commitment to improving patient care and safety, and ensuring such incidents do not occur in the future. The family and friends of Daniel O'Leary continue to mourn his loss and remember the good times they shared with him.
- The delay in acting on an X-ray led to a week-long suffering for Daniel O'Leary, a victim of choking complications caused by swallowed dentures, which is a tragic instance underscoring the importance of prompt medical-conditions treatments.
- The tragic incident raises questions about the therapies-and-treatments provided at Kanturk Community Hospital, particularly in dealing with chronic-diseases and respiratory-conditions, and the need for enhanced health-and-wellness facilities to avoid such unfortunate events in the future.
- In a heartbreaking turn of events, Mr. O'Leary's family has received an apology from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and a €55,000 monetary compensation, as well as the condolences from an Irish judge, recognizing their suffering and loss due to the lapses in fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and aging care.
- The entire episode exposed shortcomings in the hospital's system, initiating new strategies to foster a culture of improvement in patient care and safety, ensuring that chronic-kidney-disease, choking complications, or aging-related conditions do not claim any more lives due to medical negligence.
- The memory of Daniel O'Leary lives on in the hearts of his family and friends, as they remember the cherished moments they shared, hoping to find solace in the lessons learned from his unnecessary suffering and sad demise.
