A mother of two has claimed before the High Court that her womb and right ovary were removed needlessly during operations and medical procedures which she underwent at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth.
A consultant obstetrician at the hospital, Finian Lynch, "decided to finish my family for me", said Geraldine Devlin.
Ms Devlin (45), Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was first admitted to the hospital complaining of severe pain on her left side. She is suing the hospital and Dr Lynch for alleged negligence, in proceedings before Miss Justice Elizabeth Dunne. The defence denies the claims.
Ms Devlin says she was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in July 1990 with severe pain on her left side and came under the care of Dr Lynch. She underwent medical procedures and had an operation but afterwards continued to suffer the pain.
Between July 1990 and September 1994 she attended the hospital on a number of occasions and underwent operations, including a hysterectomy, and procedures to deal with the pain. However, she became very upset about the pain and asked that she be seen by another practitioner so she could get a second opinion.
She was referred to another consultant obstetrician at St James's Hospital, Dublin, who carried out a procedure and found a remnant of her right ovary tube and a complete left ovary and tube with multiple adhesions.
It was necessary to perform further surgery to alleviate the left-sided pain, it is claimed. The operation at St James's freed her from the left-sided pain.
Ms Devlin claims that, because of negligence and breach of duty of the defendants or their agents in failing to diagnose her properly and to carry out correct surgical procedures and treatment, she had undergone great pain and suffering and had had a needless hysterectomy. Her condition was aggravated and its consequences were prolonged because of what was done, it is claimed.
In March 1992 Ms Devlin gave birth to a baby boy - her second child - but afterwards the pain continued. She was still experiencing great pain on her left side the following year. She said Dr Lynch had advised a hysterectomy, and she was admitted to the hospital in November 1993. Dr Lynch performed the operation.
The pain continued and was very severe when she was lifting the baby or doing housework.
Ms Devlin, a machine operator, was absent from work many times because of her frequent hospitalisation, the court was told.Under cross-examination Ms Devlin said Dr Lynch "decided to finish my family for me".