Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
486 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that liability was admitted in the High Court case of medical negligence against Naas General Hospital by a family (details supplied); and that the judge awarded costs against the hospital as well as awarding damages of €243,000 to the family. [11216/04]
View answer487 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite admitting liability Naas General Hospital never apologised to the family of persons (details supplied) after the High Court hearing on 19 March 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11217/04]
View answerDecisions on the approach to be taken in the defence of personal injury claims arising from alleged medical malpractice are the responsibility of health boards, hospitals and their insurers in accordance with the terms of their contracts of insurance. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to make any statement relating to the management of individual cases.
488 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Naas General Hospital has initiated appeal proceedings to the Supreme Court in the medical negligence case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare despite it admitting liability in the High Court on 19 March 2004; if he will investigate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11218/04]
View answer489 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is normal practice for a hospital which has admitted liability in a case of medical negligence to appeal against the award given by the High Court; if so, the frequency with which this occurs, the reasons and the results of the appeal in each such case for the past five years. [11219/04]
View answer490 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the costs incurred by various hospitals and health boards fighting cases of medical negligence in the High Court and Supreme Court in the past five years; the individual awards made; the legal costs involved; and the additional costs and savings made in each case an appeal was lodged. [11220/04]
View answer491 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of medical negligence which have been brought against hospitals or health boards; the number that were settled prior to reaching the courts; the costs of such settlements; and the number withdrawn without incurring costs to the hospital or health board. [11221/04]
View answer492 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases in the past five years of medical negligence against hospitals or health boards settled after High Court proceedings had begun; and the costs involved in such settlements. [11222/04]
View answer493 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases in the past five years of medical negligence which have been brought against hospitals or health boards; the number that were settled prior to reaching the courts; the costs of such settlements; and the number withdrawn without incurring costs to the hospital or health board. [11223/04]
View answer511 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases in the past five years of medical negligence brought against hospitals or health boards which were settled after Supreme Court proceedings had begun; and the costs involved in such settlements. [11270/04]
View answer512 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases in the past five years of medical negligence brought against hospitals or health boards which were the subject of Supreme Court judgments; and the number of these judgments found against the defendants. [11271/04]
View answer513 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases in the past five years of medical negligence brought against hospitals or health boards which were the subject of High Court judgments; and the number of these judgments found against the defendants. [11272/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488 to 493, inclusive, and 511 to 513, inclusive, together.
Decisions on the approach to be taken in the defence of personal injury claims arising from medical malpractice claims, including whether to appeal against an award made by a court, are the responsibility of health boards, hospitals and their insurers in accordance with the terms of their contracts of insurance. Information on the management of claims by health boards and their insurers is held by them and is not available in my Department.
