Galway hospital apologises for misdiagnosis of girl's appendicitis as she settles for €64,000

BreakingNews.ie

19-06-2025

A hospital has apologised to a young girl whose appendicitis was allegedly misdiagnosed and her appendix later ruptured.
A letter of apology from University Hospital Galway was read in the High Court as Ariana Mocanu settled a legal action against the HSE for €64,000.
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Her counsel, Jeremy Maher SC, instructed by PBN Litigation, told the court that the girl, who was 7 years old at the time, had at the hospital been incorrectly diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and discharged home after midnight with antibiotics.
Nine hours later, Mr Maher said she was brought back to the hospital, but her acute appendicitis had progressed to a perforated appendix and peritonitis, and she required urgent surgery.
Mr Maher said the girl's father had on several occasions raised the possibility of appendicitis with the hospital treating medic, but was told it was a urinary tract infection.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that liability and causation remained at issue in the case.
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In the letter which was read to the court, University Hospital Galway said Ariana had been assessed by an emergency medicine doctor who formed the opinion based on her presenting complaints that the diagnosis was more likely to be a urinary tract infection rather than appendicitis.
'On this occasion, the diagnosis turned out to be incorrect. The hospital apologises for this initial misdiagnosis,' the letter from the hospital manager, Chris Kane, said.
It added: 'We regret what Ariana and her family went through and we wish Ariana and her family the very best.'
Mr Maher told the court experts on their side would say there was never a case where she should have been sent home.
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He said the HSE contended surgery would not have been possible before morning at the hospital in any event, which Counsel said he found to be bizarre.
Ariana had to have open surgery the next day and counsel said she had shown incredible courage.
Outside court, the girl's parents, Diana and Petru Mocanu through solicitor Piarais Neary, said they had brought the case for Ariana and to highlight to other parents the risk of appendicitis and to know the signs and when to seek urgent medical treatment.
They said they welcomed the apology after three years.
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Ariana Mocanu, of Gorey, Co Wexford, had through her father, Petru Mocanu, sued the HSE.
The little girl had been brought to University Hospital Galway accident and emergency department on July 23rd, 2022, complaining of acute central abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
In the proceedings, it was claimed there was a failure to take any or any reasonable care for the safety of the little girl and a failure to exercise an appropriate level of care, skill, competence and diligence in or about the diagnosis, assessment, management and treatment of the child when she presented at the hospital emergency department on July 23rd, 2022.
The little girl, it was contended, had been subjected to a substandard level of care when she presented at the hospital A&E, and there had been a wrong diagnosis of urinary tract infection.
The little girl, it was claimed, had been discharged with a wrong diagnosis and instead she should have been admitted to the hospital.
All of the claims were denied.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he was satisfied it was fair and reasonable.