The family of a man who died almost two years after suffering a heart attack following a medical procedure to unblock his nose have settled their High Court action over alleged wrongful death.
The settlement was without admission of liability.
Brendan Minnock (38), a father of one, suffered severe brain damage and was left in a vegetative state after undergoing a nasal polypectomy (a procedure to remove growths from inside the nose and sinus) in December 2007 at St Francis’s Private Hospital, Ballinderry, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
His widow, Ashling Foy, Ballin Rí, Tullamore, Co Offaly, had, on behalf of herself and his family, sued a consultant anaesthetist, Kieran Murphy, for mental distress arising out of Mr Minnock’s death.
It was claimed Dr Murphy was negligent and breached his duty of care in the medical treatment he provided to Mr Minnock.
It was alleged that before the procedure, Dr Murphy had administered medication to treat Mr Minnock’s high blood pressure when, it was claimed, it was unsafe to do so.
Dr Murphy denied the claims and denied liability in the matter
Ms Justice Mary Irvine yesterday approved a payment of €90,000 to the family under settlement of one of a number of cases arising out of Mr Minnock’s death.
The court heard two other related actions had also been settled and could be struck out. No details of those cases were revealed.
The judge expressed her sympathies to Mr Minnock’s widow and family.
