AN INQUEST into the death of a patient at a Co Louth hospital has found he died as a result of a medical accident.
Noel Martin (62), Ardee Road, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, died from heart failure arising from fluid around his heart on August 18th, 2008, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
The inquest heard doctors at the hospital had not noticed the build-up of fluid when they examined a scan taken the previous night after the patient had suffered kidney failure. An examination of the scan some months later clearly showed the fluid.
Mr Martin had been waiting almost 12 hours for transfer to Dublin for dialysis. Three ambulances had been sent for the patient, who suffered from multiple ailments, including morbid obesity, MRSA, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, arthritis and chronic depression, but two of the vehicles had been unable to take him because of his weight.
By the time the crew from the third ambulance had placed the patient on a suitable stretcher, it emerged the Mater hospital in Dublin was not prepared to accept him on the night. As he was being brought back to his room, he went into cardiac arrest and died.
Ronan Maguire, the coroner, said if the fluid had been noticed on the scan, it could have been treated, although there might not have been a different outcome. He returned a verdict of death as a result of a medical accident.