THE PARENTS of a 31-year-old woman who died after a skiing incident have secured €125,000 in settlement of their High Court action against a general practitioner.
The action was taken against the doctor for alleged failure to recognise she was at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.
Ray and Angela Hennessy, of Shamrock Avenue, Shamrock Lawn, Douglas, Co Cork, had brought the case against Dr Hassan Al Bayyari, of Maple Drive, Castleknock, Dublin, arising from the death of their daughter Julie in March 2007.
Dr John O’Mahony SC, for the couple, told Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday the proceedings had been settled and could be struck out on terms agreed between the sides. Counsel said Julie Hennessy had worked as a hedge fund manager but, as a result of the treatment from her GP, she died. A letter of apology had been received from the defendant, he added.
The parents alleged Ms Hennessy attended Dr Bayyari on March 13th, 2007, complaining of lower limb pain after a fall while skiing on holidays three to four weeks previously. On March 20th, she attended the defendant again complaining of fatigue, lack of energy and shortness of breath, it was claimed.
Dr Bayyari, it was alleged, was aware of Ms Hennessy’s history of asthma and migraine and that she was using Ventolin and Beclazone for her asthma, a beta blocker (Metacor) for migraine and an oral contraceptive medication (Mercilon), which was a further risk factor for deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism. It was alleged, notwithstanding her symptoms, the defendant failed to diagnose properly she was suffering or potentially suffering from such conditions, and failed to refer her to a hospital.
It was claimed, when complaining of breathlessness, Ms Hennessy had raised the possibility with the defendant of deep vein thrombosis. It was claimed the alleged failures led to Ms Hennessy remaining untreated, with the result she was found dead on the evening of March 22nd, 2007, without having had appropriate treatment.