Verdict of medical misadverture returned at mayo inquest

A JURY at an inquest yesterday in Castlebar found that the death of an 82 year old Mayo man at Mayo General Hospital last year was as a result of medical misadventure.

Darby King of Castlebar died on April 27,  2014, three days after he was admitted to Mayo General Hospital following a minor road traffic collision in Belcarra.

The inquest heard that Mr King suffered a stroke while driving and suffered haemorrhaging to the brain.

Mr King’s family claimed that he did not receive adequate treatment after he was admitted to Mayo General.

The HSE denied responsibility, claiming the death was a result of natural causes brought on by the stroke, and it argued that Mr. King had underlying conditions.

Dr. Kenneth Power, a Liverpool based consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care, told the  inquest that had Darby King, of Castlebar, been anti-coagulated with appropriate speed he would have survived.

Dr. Power gave evidence at the inquest, conducted by Coroner, John O’Dwyer.

Mr. King’s family maintain medical personnel failed to recognise key aspects of his medical condition on admission to MGH, that he was not given the appropriate tests/examinations, and that staff failed to follow hospital protocol or the advice from the neurological specialist unit in Beaumont for several hours

After an absence of about five minutes, an inquest jury returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

Members of the King family quietly applauded when the verdict was delivered.