A child who allegedly suffered a facial injury at the time of his birth at the Coombe hospital, Dublin, has settled his High Court action for €65,000.
Dara Brennan, it was claimed, suffered an injury to his face after he was delivered by forceps and now has scarring on his cheek and two indentations on the right side of his face, which are obvious when he smiles. Through his mother Lorraine Brennan, of Brayton Park, Kilcock, Co Kildare, the child, now aged eight, sued the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital over the circumstances of his birth there on November 12th, 2009.
It was claimed the baby suffered severe personal injury to the right side of his face caused by alleged improper use of forceps around the time of his delivery. It was also alleged there was failure to exercise the care, competence, judgment and skill to be expected in management of the labour and delivery and failure to summon a more senior doctor in obstetrics in the context of the baby’s size and position.
There was, it was further claimed, failure to allow the mother to exercise choice in the method of delivery when use of a ventouse had failed.
The claims were denied.
Richard Kean SC, with barrister Doireann O’Mahony, told the court on Thursday liability was fully contested in the case and there was a conflict between medical experts for the sides.
Counsel said Dara is a “brave little fellow” and makes “no bones” about the matter. His parents were also happy with the settlement. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross, who examined the boy’s face, said the settlement was as near to full compensation as he was going to get.
