Woman claims aspiration of lump caused collapsed lung

A woman claimed in the High Court yesterday that she suffered a collapsed lung after a needle pierced her lung when a doctor …

A woman claimed in the High Court yesterday that she suffered a collapsed lung after a needle pierced her lung when a doctor was aspirating a lump on her left breast in a Galway hospital six years ago.

Mrs Geraldine O'Reilly (43), of Tirellan Heights, Headford Road, Galway, has brought an action for damages against Dr John Beirne, and the Western Health Board.

The doctor and hospital deny Mrs O'Reilly's claims that she suffered a collapsed lung or later developed pneumonia or breathlessness. They deny they were guilty of any negligence or breach of duty.

Mr Marcus Daly SC, for Mrs O'Reilly, told Mr Justice Smith that Mr Beirne had been a research registrar at University Hospital, Galway, at the time.

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On January 30th, 1992, Mrs O'Reilly attended the breast clinic where Dr Beirne inserted a needle into her breast. Mrs O'Reilly became conscious of pain in her chest and up into her neck.

Mr Daly said his client mentioned this to Dr Beirne, who told her she was overreacting. Her husband brought her to a cafe across the road from the hospital in the hope that she would feel better but she felt weak. He returned and was told to bring her back.

She was sent for an X-ray and it was discovered the needle had pierced the lung. She was admitted to hospital and under local anaesthetic a chest drain procedure was carried out.

The following day, Mrs O'Reilly was in a lot of pain. On February 4th, the dressing was changed and she was discharged. During the following days, she was not well and on February 11th she returned to hospital because of pain at the drain site and breathlessness. She was diagnosed as having pneumonia. She developed a serve reaction to antibiotics. The drain site became infected and she became very ill. She was in hospital until February 27th.

Mr Daly said his client was later put on inhalers and during the summer of 1992 an asthmatic condition was diagnosed and it had continued. She still had symptoms of breathlessness, was using two inhalers and had frequent chest infections.

Mr Daly said the hospital should have immediately reacted to Mrs O'Reilly's pain and should not have discharged her but investigated the matter.

A medical expert would give evidence that if she had been treated immediately she would probably have gone home the next day without complications.

Mrs O'Reilly told the court that when the needle went into her breast, she could feel pain going across her chest and up into her neck. Dr Beirne had said people reacted differently. She remembered feeling hot, clammy and weak.

The hearing continues today.