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THE PARENTS OF a newborn baby who died after her heart was accidentally pierced by a doctor have accused medical staff of lying to them following their daughter’s death.
The family said they had to grapple with a “long and arduous legal battle to uncover the truth” of what exactly happened to two-day old Laoise Ní Scolaí.
Laoise and her twin brother Cuán were born prematurely in the Coombe hospital at 28 weeks on 22 January 2015.
As reported by RTÉ, the parents were told two days later that each baby had a collapsed lung and required a procedure to relieve it. This involves a drain being inserted into the baby’s chest.
At an inquest in 2017, it was recounted that the doctor who carried out the procedure was not aware of the protocols for carrying it out on a baby as small as Laoise, who weighed only 2lbs.
Today, the High Court heard the matter had been settled for “substantial sums”.
“We were lied to from the moment Laoise died and continued to be lied to for many years after her death,” said the family in a statement provided by their solicitor Stuart Gilhooly afterwards.
Cóilín Ó Scolaí, Laoise’s father, criticised the way the “extraordinary” way the family was treated in the subsequent years, saying they were “gaslighted” by the hospital.
“The medical profession was not only negligent but also continued to prevaricate and fabricate a line of defence for many years after our tragedy.”
Ó Scolaí continued: “While Laoise lived we were being told she was the stronger of the two but the moment she died the narrative changed and now were being told she was the weaker of the two, this gaslighting continued for the two years and even when Irene attended follow up check-ups with Cuán, they would always reiterate the new narrative which was very distressing to hear.
“We have watched Laoise’s twin brother, who when born was the weaker of the two, growing up to be a strong, athletic, healthy boy and we always wonder what she would have been like today, would she look like him, have his personality, his cheeky smile.
“It is also a constant reminder that she is not here. Laoise should be here enjoying a happy carefree midterm break this week, alongside him.
“He is growing up without his twin sister and we live with her loss every day, when they pierced her heart, they broke ours, our little girl who we wanted for so long and loved so dearly was dead.”
The legal process that we found ourselves in begun because we could not get to the truth of what actually happened to Laoise and it took tremendous fight on our part to get to that truth.
The family said it took months following the inquest for the HSE to admit liability, the lenght of time adding to pain and suffering, and criticised the “harsh and gruelling” legal process they had to journey through.
“Had the hospital held up their hands at the beginning, admitted their wrongdoing and ensured us that this would never happen again, we would have been saved of this pain and torment,” Ó Scolaí said.
“It would have allowed us to move forward to grieve our daughter a lot sooner. Instead, it has taken 8 years to get to this point and they have still not informed us what steps they have taken to ensure that this procedure is now safe.
“This has been a very long and painful journey that could have been avoided. Something needs to change.”
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The sickness the day after 18 pints would worse I think!
Just keep going so, you only have a hang over when you are sober.
At last an alternative medicine I can believe in
Might just give it a shot purely for scientific research of course.
Guinness is good for you.
BS!
have to admit, I have had pints before to stop a runny nose. it’s does work but no need for 18!
I feel a cold coming on
You certainly wouldn’t notice a cold after 18 pints.
Seeing that it’s hops based, could I justify 6 pints of IPA? Probably not :-(
no wondet I never have a cold :-)
Challenge accepted.
People don’t need to ‘fight off colds’ ,that’s simply an illusion . The idea of sickness only starts in the mind, If you think you are going to get the sick, you will get. You drink beer to get pisseyed.
Have to agree with you on principal. The human body is amazing with the right attitude.
Wait, so you’re saying that if I think a virus exists, then it will just spontaneously exist? I’m going to think really hard about a 50 euro note in front of me right now. Thinking… thinking… thinking… Damn, no 50 euro.
You will need more than 50? for 18 pints
Sure…
Research ‘Placebo Effect’ .
True Knowledge, is power.
I think you are the one who needs to research the placebo effect because you obviously don’t understand the term.
You know it all Barry. Ha ha!
People who research Placebo effect will be simply amazed at the findings associated with its effects on the human body & health.
Placebo effect is real… but let me know if anyone takes a placebo for cancer or AIDS and is cured please.
18? I’ll never get there anyway.
Maddest binge was somewhere around the 14 area. Even if I could remember what was going on at the end of that session, I don’t think I’d want to.
lightweight
Craft beers where its at, wouldnt drink the mass produced pish by u know who in Ireland anymore.
I think I’ve a cold coming on and its Friday. kill two birds with one stone. Gonna have to pay ?1.80 extra though, damm budget
No wonder alcohol still does so much damage when you have such articles
Kevin, cheer up.
I’m happy as ever Damien I don’t drink. However many people I know do and the culture around drink in Ireland is having them pissed every week. Some had been in A&E before, some went to clinics to rid their addiction. It’s sad seen this happen to our nation. All the time you have people commenting on this saying Guiness is good for you?
So you really think alcohol does so much damage because of articles like this?
Being a miserable sod is not good for you either Kevin
No Damien but it fuels the culture and its a culture in decline thank god. Dave I said last comment I’m happy, I’m not asking how you feel to be honest I don’t care. I am concerned about the amount people in Ireland are drinking. I’m only 18 but seen enough devastating incidents in this area whether its a Gaf, pub or night out
Anyway I didn’t actually mean cheer up. It was just a polite way of saying cop on and don’t be so dry.
Why didn’t you say cop on then and stop been so dry? Besides what kind of argument stance is cop on?
I’m trying to make a point on the damaging drink culture this nation has and I’m getting told to cop on?
Guessing the guy who didn want to go church years ago was probly told to “cop on” and look where religion is now. There’s stacks more pleasures in life than getting pissed and until this nation realises that well always have a drinking problem.
Look at the social stigma about Ireland across the world, “drunkin leprechauns” is what most countries think about us. I know I’m not a drunken leprechaun and never will be, what a waste of life.
Kevin, there is no argument.
I think the article is taking the medical advice with a bucket of salt, Kevin.
I think you should read my comments first before commenting yourselves
That’s amazing. I’m currently down with pneumonia in my left lung, has to be one of the worst experiences I’ve had on the illness front yet. It’s kinda funny that the doctor told me to stay away from alcohol as it weakens your immune system. I must give him a ring and tell him that the brewery says its OK and send the mother around the corner to fine wines to pick me up a 6 pack.
I have it at the moment and have been off the beer for weeks!! should have read this first :P
DRINK FEIC GIRLS..what doesn’t kill us will cure us…!
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