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Beaumont Hospital has apologized to a former professional golfer who is now paralyzed after a late diagnosis of a spinal tumor.
The Superior Court heard that in 2016, Ian St John, 42, went to the ER five times with back pain and was released with multiple diagnoses.
He was eventually admitted with excruciating back pain, but it took two weeks before his cancer was found. By this time, Mr. St John was already beginning to show signs of paralysis in his legs.
After surgery to remove a tumor, he did not regain strength in his legs and now uses a wheelchair.
Today, he settled his lawsuit in Superior Court against the hospital.
Details of the deal were not disclosed. An apology was read in court and responsibility in the case was partially admitted.
The hospital admitted that it was unable to diagnose Mr. St John’s tumor on a CT scan on August 17, 2016, but no admissions regarding his treatment were made to the hospital emergency department prior to his admission as an inpatient .
In a statement read to the court, the hospital’s chief executive, Ian Carter, said he wished on behalf of the hospital to express his “sincerest apologies for the failures that occurred during the care provided to him at Beaumont Hospital.”
The statement continued: “I understand that this has had the most serious consequences for you and your family, and I hope that today’s agreement provides an element of security for the future.”
Mr. St John from Pilltown in Co Kilkenny was previously a PGA Professional and Principal Professional at Rush Golf Club, Co Dublin.
It was claimed that Mr. St John presented to the hospital emergency department on five occasions since August 5, 2016 complaining of pain in his upper back that was constantly increasing and becoming unbearable. Each time it was claimed that Mr. St John was discharged from the hospital with different diagnoses.
Due to excruciating pain, Mr. St John returned to the hospital on August 14 and was admitted as an inpatient. It was noticed that he had a swelling or a lump on his upper right back.
It was stated that Mr. St John underwent a series of tests and treatments and after two weeks he was found to be suffering from paralysis of the lower extremities and the opinion of a neurosurgeon was sought.
After an MRI, the tumor compressing the nerves was diagnosed. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor on August 28, 2016, and began cancer treatment.
Mr. St John did not regain strength in his lower extremities, which is alleged to have been caused by prolonged compression of the tumor on the nerves of the thoracic spine.
In his action for damages it was alleged that he did not recognize the importance of the intense and agonizing low back pain that he suffered and a supposed lack of suspicion of malignancy despite the strongly suggestive clinical characteristics.
This, it was claimed, resulted in an unacceptable delay in performing a diagnostic and treatment biopsy.
In an out-of-court statement, Ian St John said: “I am pleased that you received an apology from Beaumont Hospital today. Your inattention has left me paralyzed, to live a life in a wheelchair, a life that is inconsistent with I enjoyed her as a man, husband, father and as a PGA golf professional.
“The failure in care has caused irreparable physical and psychological damage to my life and the lives of those closest to me.”
He said the case had taken more than four years to reach a conclusion and thanked his wife Orla, who was 8 months pregnant at the time, for her love and support and “the tireless search for the best care has kept me going. with life”.
He also thanked his family, friends, legal team, and oncology team.
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