A WOMAN whose 40-year-old husband died the day after he underwent a surgical procedure has secured €250,000 in settlement of her High Court action alleging wrongful death.
The man’s first wife, with whom he had a daughter, is to receive €150,000.
Ariuna Rawlings (39), Kimmage Grove, Dublin, had brought the action against St James’s Hospital, Dublin and the Health Service Executive over the death of her husband David Rawlings in January 2000 after he had a laparotomy, an investigative surgical procedure.
Liability had been admitted in the case and it was before the High Court for assessment only.
Yesterday, the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, was informed the case had been settled and could be struck out.
Eugene Gleeson, for Ariuna Rawlings, said her London-born husband David was admitted to St James’s Hospital on January 24th, 2000.
There he underwent a laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity. It is usually carried out as an investigative procedure.
Following complications, Mr Rawlings died the following day after attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. He had married Ariuna, a native of Mongolia, in 1998 and they were living in Dublin.
Counsel said Mr Rawlings was previously married to Fiona Rawlings in April 1985, and they had a daughter Lucy.
That marriage ended in divorce but Mr Rawlings was providing financial support.