The family of a 21-year-old student who died of blood poisoning the day after being discharged from hospital where he had presented with headaches and vomiting has settled a High Court action over his death.
The court heard Adam Mulchrone was deteriorating and by the time he returned to Mayo University Hospital a short time later, he was in a state of health that could not be reversed and he died within 12 hours.
An inquest into the death of the student from Westport, Co Mayo, later gave the cause of death as multi-organ failure due to, or as a consequence of, meningococcal septicaemia with neisseria meningitis infection an antecedent cause.
In the High Court, the Mulchrone family’s counsel told the court that the day before his death, Mr Mulchrone – who had taken ill while football training – was referred to Mayo University Hospital by a GP on the basis of possible meningitis.
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Des O’Neill SC said Mr Mulchrone was examined in the emergency department but was discharged four hours later without a second evaluation of his case.
Mr Mulchrone was “deteriorating by the hour”, said counsel, and he returned to the hospital seven hours later in a “state of health which could not be reversed”.
It was the Mulchrone’s case that, on the balance of probabilities, had he been admitted for fluids and antibiotics after first attending the hospital at about 3pm on January 26th, 2019, he would have survived.
Confidential terms
The Mulchrones settled a number of actions against the Health Service Executive over Mr Mulchrone’s death and nervous shock as a result. The terms of the settlement, which was reached after mediation, are confidential.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to the deceased’s parents and family.
Mr Mulchrone’s mother, Mary Mulchrone, of Sandyhill, Westport, Co Mayo, had sued the HSE.
On the morning of January 26th, 2019, Mr Mulchrone left football training because he was feeling unwell. He had a headache and his temperature started to rise. A GP advised he be taken to Mayo University Hospital.
He was reviewed at the hospital, where abdominal pain, vomiting and chills were noted.
He complained of neck stiffness and the doctor looked in his mouth and felt his jaw socket and neck but said he could go home, it was claimed.
At home, Mr Mulchrone got sick straight away and his temperature went up. His condition worsened in the early hours and he had little red spots on his back.
Meningitis diagnosis
He returned to the hospital, where he was reviewed at 5am. It was noted he had a rash all over his body and his neck was very rigid. A working diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis was made.
There were further reviews but his condition deteriorated with worsening multiorgan failure. He was intubated but died before 5pm on January 27th of a bloodstream infection.
Mr O’Neill, instructed by solicitor Ciaran Tansey, said the hospital apologised in a letter to the family and acknowledged liability in the case.
In the letter of apology sent in October last year, Mayo University Hospital said it wished to extend sincere condolences following the tragic and untimely death of Mr Mulchrone.
“The loss of Adam for you as a family is immeasurable and I know will have a lifelong impact on you all as individuals and as a family. Adam’s death is deeply regretted by all the staff and management at the hospital, especially those who were involved in his care in the emergency department and later in the ICU,” it said.
The hospital said it was “truly sorry for the pain and distress caused”, adding: “We unreservedly apologise for the failings in the standard of care provided to Adam.”
The letter also said what was learned from Mr Mulchrone’s case would continue to be addressed by the hospital emergency department.