The parents of two-year-old haemophiliac Pierce Nowlan, who died following an operation at Crumlin children's hospital, have welcomed a verdict of medical misadventure on his death.
But Jean Nowlan said outside Dublin City Coroner's Court that she would never get over the "devastation" of losing her only child. Stephen Nowlan indicated yesterday that they would now consider taking legal action against the hospital. "It is unfortunate that it took such a long and arduous road for this verdict to be given and the coroner given the chance to see other medical witnesses. It is of some small comfort that based on this medical misadventure, recommendations have been made and implemented," Jean Nowlan said.
Pierce's parents met Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and initiated an amendment to the Coroner's Act in December that allows for more than two medical practitioners to give evidence at any one inquest.
Mrs Nowlan said she was hopeful that "at least because these recommendations have been applied, other parents can go home to their kiddies and don't have to go through what we went through. Nothing will ever replace our son.
"It's some small consolation that some good, some improvement has been made to the medical procedures but nothing can replace our loss."
The Nowlans criticised the lack of communication between doctors during and following Pierce's operation. "It's quite amazing. It's very hard to comprehend that you put your faith, your trust, your child's life in their hands and that there's such a long litany of conflict and disagreement. It's quite appalling to think that this is going on."
Stephen Nowlan said they began lobbying for a change to the Coroner's Act "because we knew what was said wasn't the full facts. Now more evidence has come out but there's still conflicts. They'll never admit to what really happened."