A hospital has apologised to the family of a 67-year-old man who died after protocols were not followed for the removal of a catheter leading to catastrophic brain damage.
Martin Best from Childers Heights, Ballina, Co Mayo, was being treated for respiratory failure after he was admitted to Mayo University Hospital in January 2019.
He was initially treated in critical care which required the insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC).
However, he was later moved to a ward when his condition improved.
Senior Counsel Damien Higgins told the High Court that Mr Best was preparing for discharge when a doctor removed the CVC line while the patient was in an upright position.
Because of this air entered his circulatory system and travelled to his brain causing catastrophic neurological failure leading to his death, Mr Higgins said.
An inquest last year into Mr Best’s death returned a verdict of medical misadventure.
In court today, a letter was read on behalf of Mayo University Hospital to Mr Best’s widow, Geraldine Best.
The hospital accepted there was a “deviation in protocol for the removal of CVC lines in allowing Mr Best to sit up during the procedure”.
It was also accepted that a coroner’s post-mortem rather than a hospital post-mortem should have been arranged. The hospital manager said the issues were “deeply regretted” and extended its sincere apologies to Ms Best and her family.
After today’s case, Mr Best’s daughter, Sharon Best said: “I hope that lessons can be learned from my late dad’s death. I would encourage a nationwide protocol to be introduced for the safe removal of CVC lines to prevent similar future deaths occurring.”
Outside court she said it was a “bitter sweet day after a very tough five year wait. Due to a deviation in procedure when removing the CVC line sadly it triggered his death and we had to question that … we did get an apology but it is still very painful and we have to learn now to move on and live life without dad.”
She said she hoped “every hospital in Ireland introduces this protocol for the CVC line removal and it is continually assessed so no one ever has to go through this again.”
She described her father as “so generous, kind and warm hearted … he hadn’t a bad bone in his body. He was coming home that day and he never came home.”
Solicitor for the family David O’Malley said a “regrettable part of this tragic death was the failure of the hospital to notify the coroner resulting in a delay of an inquest taking place. It is important for all sudden unexplained deaths to be notified to coroners immediately.”
The case was before the High Court for a ruling on the division of the statutory sum of €35,000 in cases of wrongful death.
Other family members have settled civil cases over the death of Mr Best. The details of these settlments was not disclosed to the court.
Mr Justice Coffey extended his sincere sympathy to the Best family.
