Louth hospital apologises to terminally-ill woman who sued over failure to read smear test results

A hospital has apologised to a terminally ill woman over its delay in diagnosing her cervical cancer.

The apology was given to 46 year-old mother of two Evija Rudzone by Our Lady of Lourdes, Louth County Hospital in Drogheda who on Wednesday settled her medical negligence action against the HSE.

The court heard that due to her illness Ms Rudzone's cancer has spread, and that she has only months to live.

The HSE accepted that it had breached its duty of care to Ms Rudzone by failing to diagnose and treat her cancer at an earlier point in time.

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Her counsel Dr John O'Mahony SC, appearing with Doireann O'Mahony Bl instructed by Mcguigan Solicitors told Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds that the case has been resolved following a mediation.

While no details of the settlement were given in open court counsel said that the settlement was "substantial". The court heard that she was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer in her native Latvia in 2022.

Her doctors in Latvia told her that her cancer was "slow growing" and that it should have been picked up earlier.

This, it was claimed, came as a great shock to her as she believed that she had been receiving proper care in Ireland.

Counsel said it was his client's case that there were "multiple opportunities" arising out of smear tests she had done between 2018 and 2020 in Ireland to detect her cancer.

It was claimed that the slides were not properly examined or interpreted and this failure to properly detect, and diagnose her cancer amounted to negligence.

Had her results been properly examined counsel said his client's cancer could have been successfully treated and she would not have had to undergo the many procedures, treatments and surgeries performed on her since her diagnosis, it was claimed.

In a letter of apology to Ms Rudzone from the Louth County Hospital's General Manager Mr Gary Keenan, the hospital expressed its "sincere and hearfelt apologies" to the plaintiff and her family for the delay in the diagnosis of your cervical cancer."

"We recognised that our failure has had a significant impact on your life and has caused enormous distress to you and your family"

"I do not underestimate how traumatic this has been for you and your family, but I can assure you that reviews of our hospital practises are continuously carried out with the ultimate aim of ensuring the safety of patients at all times."

Ms Rudzone with an address Drumgola Woods, Co Cavan had claimed that as well as her physical health her mental and family life had suffered as a result of what had happened to her.

She said she was angry over the missed opportunities to diagnose her condition.

She had expended her savings on going for treatment in Latvia.

Ms Justice Reynolds said that the real tragedy in the case was the delay in diagnosing Mr Rudzone's illness.

The judge also paid tribute to the mother of two daughters, who the court heard has born her illness with dignity, grace and courage.