A widow yesterday began a High Court action against a doctor who she claims failed to come to the aid of her husband on the day of his death more than 10 years ago.
Mrs Margaret Eite claims she telephoned Dr Andrew Jordan's surgery several times on November 7th, 1988, asking for him to attend to her husband.
She did not speak to him directly but to his receptionist who, Mrs Eite claims, said she would try to contact Dr Jordan and call back. Mrs Eite claims Dr Jordan failed to come.
Mrs Eite, of Bolbrook Villas, Tallaght, is suing Dr Jordan, of Heatherview Avenue, Aylesbury, Tallaght, in whose care she says her late husband, Noel Eite, was in 1988.
Mr Eite, who was 53 at the time, was pronounced dead on November 7th, 1988, after being taken by ambulance from his home to St James's Hospital in Dublin.
It is alleged that the doctor negligently and in breach of contract failed to respond to a series of phone calls made on behalf of Mr Eite to his surgery on the day Mr Eite died.
The claim is denied by the defendant.
Mrs Eite is bringing the action on her own behalf and of her five children, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Opening the case before the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Morris, Mr Michael Hanna SC said the deceased was a fit and healthy person before the incident on the day of his death.
On that day he took ill at his home. Several calls were made to Dr Jordan's surgery.
Mrs Eite was told by a receptionist that she would try to get the doctor on his pager.
Eventually the family rang the doctor's home where Mrs Jordan said her husband did not have a pager.
Mr Hanna said the family were told by the receptionist that she would call back, but she never did.
It was Mr Eite's daughter, Veronica, who phoned Dr Jordan's home and spoke to Mrs Jordan.
The doctor's wife said her husband was not home for lunch but that she had spoken to him 20 minutes previously.
One of Mr Eite's sons then called for an ambulance, but by the time a cardiac ambulance arrived, Mr Eite was dead.
Mr Hanna said Dr Jordan at first agreed to issue a death certificate but later declined, and eventually a coroner issued a certificate.
When telephoned on the day of Mr Eite's death, Dr Jordan should have done one of three things: attend to his patient immediately, make alternative arrangements by calling in support such as the emergency services, or both, counsel said.
Had he done so, there was a high probability that Mr Eite would not have died.
Once a person with a heart attack reaches a hospital, their prospects for recovery increase dramatically, Mr Hanna said.
Counsel said Dr Jordan's conduct fell below what was an appropriate standard for a GP.
They still did not know where the doctor was at the time he was called to attend Mr Eite.
Mrs Margartet Eite said her husband prided himself on his health. Up to the time of his death he fished and cycled regularly.
On the day of his death she made three calls to Dr Jordan's surgery.
During the first and second, the receptionist told her she would try and get the doctor on his pager and that she would call back. But she did not.
Her daughter, Veronica, then called.
When her daughter called the doctor's home, Mrs Jordan suggested they call for a ambulance.
Mrs Eite said her family were traumatised by what had happened.
She suffered from guilt because she trusted Dr Jordan to call when requested to respond.
Nine days later she went to Dr Jordan's surgery to speak to him about what had happened but left after about 40 minutes without seeing him.
She later complained to the Eastern Health Board and gave a full account of what had happened.
The hearing continues today.