A fourteen year old boy, who was starved of oxygen during his birth and now suffers from cerebral palsy, has had a compensation settlement of 3.5 million Euros approved in the High Court.
Cian Mangan, from Faranree, County Cork, was born late into the evening of the 1st of June 1996. He was already several days overdue when his mother, Michelle, was admitted to St. Finbarr’s Hospital, County Cork, in the early stages of labour.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the High Court heard that Cian’s foetal heartbeat had fallen between the time Michelle was admitted to the hospital and when he was born, and it was alleged that staff at the hospital had failed to recognise this symptom of foetal distress.
Their alleged oversight led to a delay in summoning a doctor and consequently, when Cian was delivered at 11.39pm, he had become asphyxiated, and now suffers from cerebral palsy as a result.
Claiming medical negligence through his mother, the court heard that the Health Service Executive (HSE) denied liability for Cian’s injuries and argued that the proper procedures were followed. However, the HSE had made an offer of 3.5 million Euros cerebral palsy compensation which Cian and his family were prepared to accept.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Brian McGovern agreed that a payment of 140,000 Euros should be paid to Cian’s mother for the care she had provided for him over the past fourteen years, and heard that an application was going to be made to make Cian a ward of court.