The High Court has approved an interim settlement of €1.7 million in the case of a four-year-old girl who suffered brain damage after a delay in diagnosing sepsis immediately after her birth.
Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe County Galway apologised for the distress caused to Rehmah Shafiq and her mother Amna and expressed its regret over some aspects of the standard of care they received in July 2019.
The court was told it was two days after her birth before Rehmah Shafiq was given antibiotics, despite her mother showing signs of infection during labour. She developed early onset post natal sepsis and meningitis and suffered a brain injury.
In her High Court action for damages it was alleged there was a failure to administer broad spectrum antibiotics to the baby’s mother, Amna Shafiq, formerly of Racecourse Road, Roscommon or assess her for sepsis when she developed a high temperature during labour at Portiuncula Hopsital on 8 July 2019. It was also claimed there was a failure to give preventative antibiotics to the baby or spot the signs of early onset post natal sepsis.
Senior Counsel Bruce Antoniotti told the court it was admitted by the defendants that there was signs of infection shortly after the birth of Rehmah and that antibiotics should have been given in view of the condition of her mother. He said the baby developed a Strep B infection and meningitis along with a blood clot. She suffered seizures and brain damage.
While meeting many of her developmental milestones, he said Rehmah has hyperactivity and is prone to falls and a lack of awareness about safety. It is anticipated that she may face neurological issues in the future but these cannot yet be fully diagnosed. The case was settled for an interim period of five years when it will return to court for a further assessment of her condition and needs.
The court was told Rehmah’s mother Amna had to give up her job as a developmental scientist in the pharmaceutical industry to care for her daughter full time. The Pakistani native, who moved to Ireland in 2015 after her marriage, has a Masters degrees in biochemistry and bio pharmaceuticals but had to give up work due to exhaustion following the birth of her daughter. While she had been given some supports from a number of bodies, including the early intervention team in Roscommon, it had “all ceased” in 2022 when she was discharged from primary care paediatric services and she had been left to her own resources since, the court was told. She has no other family living in Ireland. Since separating from her husband, the mother and daughter were living in “totally unsuitable” one bedroom accommodation in Athlone, the court was told.
A statement read to the court on behalf of the hospital management and staff said it wished to express “their regret that some aspects of the care provided to the patient and their baby did not reach the standard to which we aspire and we sincerely apologise for the distress that this has caused”.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey approved the settlement saying it was “fair and reasonable”. He adjourned the case for five years.
Afterwards, solicitor Dolores Gacquin said the brain injury suffered by Rehmah as a result of delay in diagnosing early onset neonatial sepsis would have “significant lifelong consequences”. Ms Gacquin said today’s settlement would ensure that Rehmah’s every need for the next five years was adequately met.
