Woman who underwent symphysiotomy sues Coombe Hospital

An elderly woman who clains there was no justification for a symphysiotomy carried out on her after the birth of her first baby has told the High Court she never danced again.

The 71-year-old woman told Mr Justice Kevin Cross she and her husband used to love going to house dances and cellidhs but she has not danced since she underwent the procedure at the age of 19.

“I have not been able to dance since,” she said.

The woman, from the Midlands, has sued the Coombe Hospital claiming there was no justification whatsoever for the performance of a symphysiotomy on her following the safe delivery of her first child by caesarean section.

The case is the first of several similar cases brought by women who had the procedure and is regarded as a test case. The Coombe Hospital claims the proceedings are statute barred and denies all claims.

At the outset of the case, counsel for the hospital sought to make an application to have the case dismissed on the grounds of undue delay.

After being told the woman’s case is limited to a claim there was no justification for the procedure, the judge said it could go to hearing.

Opening the case, Matthias Kelly SC, for the woman, said she only found out what happened to her after she watched a television programme in 2012 about symphysiostomy.

His side contended the decison to perform a symphysiotomy was unacceptable and unjustified after the baby was safely delivered. The procedure was never discussed with his client, he added.

In evidence, the woman, who has a number of children, said she had been transferred to the Coombe Hospital to have her first baby.

She said she was brought to theatre for a Caesarean section and, when she woke up afterwards, she was not allowed out of bed and did not see her baby until the next day.

When her mother enquired about her, she was told she had had a “different delivery”, she said.

It took her a long time to walk and she has been unable to dance since. She had pain in her left hip which continues to this day and had fallen over on occasions.

In 2012, she was watching the Vincent Browne show on TV3 where they were discussing symphysiotomy, she said. “I had not heard the word before.”

Her daughter later sent off for a form and they contacted a solicitor.

The case continues.