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HSE
HSE apologises to family over cancer misdiagnosis
Family awarded damages after Tullamore woman’s cancer was incorrectly diagnosed as depression.
THE FAMILY OF A CO WESTMEATH woman who died after being misdiagnosed at two hospitals has received an apology from the HSE and damages of €65,000, RTÉ reports.
65-year-old Esther Galvin from Horseleap, Moate, Co Westmeath, died in August 2006, two years after she became unwell.
Consultants at Tullamore and Portlaoise hospitals subsequently incorrectly diagnosed their patient as having depression, and Galvin’s lung cancer was not detected until she underwent tests in December 2005 in Dublin.
Despite receiving treatment for the cancer, Galvin died nine months later.
Today, a case taken by her family against the HSE and two consultant physicians was settled with damages agreed for €65,000. A family statement issued through their solicitor said the family encourages other people “to continue in their quest for answers”.
Midlands 103 reports that there has been no admission of liability. The case against both consultants was struck off and they were found not to be liable.
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