A mother of three who alleged both of her ovaries were unnecessarily removed by an obstetrician at Tralee General Hospital has settled her High Court action on undisclosed terms.
On the basis of the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Butler yesterday struck out the proceedings brought by Joan Mangan against Dr Victor Moore, Thornhill House, Strand Hill Road, Sligo, and the Health Service Executive over the procedure, carried out on March 24th, 2000. The judge made an order for taxation of Ms Mangan's costs against both defendants.
The case was due to open yesterday. However, after talks between Dr John O'Mahony, for Ms Mangan, and counsel for the defendants, who denied the claims, the action was settled yesterday afternoon. No details were disclosed.
In her claim, Ms Mangan (39), Riverhaven, Coolcorcoran, Killarney, Co Kerry, said she had three children born by Caesarean section and had undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy prior to attending Dr Moore at Tralee hospital in March 2000 complaining of abdominal pain.
Ms Mangan said she was then aged 32 and Dr Moore was then a locum consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at the hospital. An ultrasound scan suggested an enlarged right ovary and she was admitted on March 24th for a laparotomy, which was carried out by Dr Moore. She claimed there was no suggestion her right ovary was malignant, that it was only slightly enlarged. No investigation was carried out to determine if the right ovary was malignant.
She said that, during the laparotomy, Dr Moore found that the right ovary was trapped and laterally adherent to the pelvic wall. He removed the right ovary and also the left ovary in order, according to his notes "to avoid risks of recurrent trapped ovary".
Because of the alleged wrongful and unnecessary removal of the ovaries, Ms Mangan claims she will have to take hormone replacement therapy for 20 years and suffered mental distress, depression and other problems.