A DUBLIN mother claimed in the High Court yesterday she is suffering from paralysis of her left side following an operation in 1990. She alleged the neurosurgeon did not fully explain the risks.
Mrs Barbara Moran (8) of Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin, has brought an action for damages against Beaumont Hospital Board in Dublin and neurosurgeon, Mr Sean O Laoire.
Mrs Moran told Mr Justice Johnson she would have lived with severe headaches and dizziness had she known all the risks of the operation performed on her by Mr O Laoire on October 3rd, 1990. She would have taken the risk that she might suffer a brain haemorrhage later in life.
The hospital and Mr O Laoire deny Mrs Moran's claims. Mr O Laoire claims that before surgery Mrs Moran was fully informed of her condition, and the risks of surgery.
Mr Conor Maguire SC for Mrs Moran, opening the case, said that from about the age of 14 she suffered from headaches. Tests in 1984 revealed she had a malformation, arterio venal malformation (AVM), in relation to blood flow to her brain.
In 1990 it was decided to go ahead and relieve the problem and initially she seemed to be recovering well but had a further problem and a second operation. She remained in hospital until February 1991 before going to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire.
Mrs Moran said that in 1984 another neurosurgeon, Mr Jack Phillips, had said the only thing they could do was operate but would not do so in her case as the malformation was too deep and dangerous. He had said to "keep an eye" on the headaches. If there was a brain haemorrhage they might operate.
Between 1986 and 1990 she continued to have headaches and dizziness. Around 1989-90 she got pins and needles in her finger tips. When waiting to get off a bus she had a blackout. It was the only definite blackout she had.
In 1990 she met Mr O Laoire along with her mother. Mr O Laoire said they would operate, that there was a risk of brain haemorrhage with AVM of 1 per cent per year; that the older she got the greater the risk and that pregnancy increased the risk.
Mr O Laoire had said there was a 5 per cent chance of minor disability. She had not thought it too serious a procedure when there was a 5 per cent risk.
In reply to Mr Maguire, Mrs Moran said she did not think she would have had the operation had she been told there was a 2 per cent risk of mortality or a 15 to 25 per cent risk of serious handicap.
I would have put up with the headaches and being dizzy now and again.
Immediately after two operations she was weak and her left side would not move. Her face was slightly dropped, her shoulder was in a sling, she could not walk, stand, move her knee, ankle or toes. Her shoulder kept dislocating as the muscle had wasted.
By the time she had gone to the National Rehabilitation Centre she had been able to walk holding on to a wall or rail. In the centre her balance and walking improved but her right arm did not improve.
Mrs Moran said her shoulder still dislocated several times a days and she had to put in back into its socket. Her right elbow and shoulder were now swollen.
In reply to Mr Murray McGrath SC, for Mr O Laoire, Mrs Moran said she did not remember Mr Phillips saying they could remove the AVM but there would be a risk of some neurological problem afterwards.
Mr McGrath, referring to the meeting with Mr O Laoire and her mother, asked if the entire 15 to 20 minute discussion in relation to the operation was that he would excise the AVM and the discussion relating to risk could be stated in one sentence?
Mrs Moran said there had been no reference to the possibility of serious disability. She agreed Mr O Laoire did not force her to have the operation.