A SCHOOL teacher suffered life-threatening injuries and spent weeks in intensive care after suffering an infection following what she believed was a routine surgical procedure, the High Court was told yesterday.
Nodhlaig Davern (37) was diagnosed as having the flesh-eating disease ( necrotising fasciitis) after undergoing a laparoscopy, described as a commonly performed surgical procedure to examine the abdominal or pelvic organs, in October 2002, the court heard. It is alleged the laparoscopy was carried out as part of ongoing fertility treatment commenced five years earlier.
Ms Davern and her husband Patrick, Glenavon, Ballyhea, Charleville, Co Cork, are suing consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Mark Skehan, Pery Square, Limerick. It is alleged he was negligent and in breach of duty in performing the laparoscopy.
Ms Davern claims Dr Skehan should not have proceeded with the laparoscopy because of a previous failed attempt in 1997 to carry out the procedure on her, because an alternative procedure was readily available and because she was overweight at the time.
She also claims he failed to warn her of the risks prior to the procedure and used a technique that resulted in a large incision which became bruised and infected. She further claims, due to her injuries, that she has been advised not to become pregnant and has lost the opportunity to have children.
Patrick Davern, a stainless steel fabricator, claims he was severely traumatised as a result of witnessing his wife being seriously ill in hospital for more than two months. He is also upset he cannot have a child with his wife.
Dr Skehan, represented by Kieran Fleck SC, has denied the claims and has pleaded that what happened to Ms Davern occurred as a result of complications arising from the procedure he performed. He pleads the procedure was performed appropriately.
Opening the case, Oonagh McCrann SC, for the Daverns, said they started to attend Dr Skehan in 1997 for fertility treatment. In November 1997, Dr Skehan attempted to carry out a laparoscopy and dye test on Ms Davern but that was abandoned due to difficulties in carrying out the procedure. A number of fertility drugs were then prescribed without success, counsel said.
On October 18th, 2002, Ms Davern underwent a laparoscopy and dye test at Limerick Regional Hospital under the care of Dr Skehan. She was released the following day but she fell and complained of abdominal pain. On October 20th, she was readmitted to hospital and was diagnosed as having the flesh-eating disease, counsel said. She required further surgery on five occasions.
The case continues today.