A NEWLYWED couple were devastated when the woman suffered brain damage allegedly as a result of a surgical procedure carried out shortly after they returned from honeymoon, the High Court heard yesterday.

 

Avril Doyle (46), Wyattville Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, had been a “bubbly and vivacious” receptionist before her injury but now needed almost round-the-clock care, the court was told.

 

Suing through her husband Dick Doyle, chief executive of Phonographic Performance Ireland and director general of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, Ms Doyle has alleged negligence and breach of duty against the HSE and a consultant surgeon, Joseph Duignan, who practises at St Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, where the operation was carried out.

 

Liability is not admitted except in relation to the failure to provide a nutritionist at the hospital, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill was told yesterday.

 

The court heard Ms Doyle became ill while on honeymoon in the Dominican Republic in June 2005. After her return she was referred, on July 18th, to St Michael’s, where she underwent a laparotomy to treat multiple abdominal adhesions. She was discharged after 10 days but readmitted on August 2nd after her condition deteriorated.

 

She underwent further surgery including another laparotomy, in which part of her small bowel had to be removed. She required emergency intravenous feeding or total parenteral nutrition. It is alleged, as a result of an alleged failure to administer thiamine as part of this feeding, she suffered brain damage and a condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff psychosis.

 

The defendants, it is alleged, failed in their duty to monitor, test and review her nutritional needs as part of the nutrition management.

 

Richard T Keane, for Ms Doyle, said that as a result of her injuries she became confused, increasingly disoriented and developed problems with memory. She suffered impairment of her executive and cognitive linguistic functions as well as overall loss of IQ, he said.

 

Ms Doyle continues to have problems with unsteadiness and dizziness and suffers debilitating fatigues, fits and depression, counsel added.

 

In November 2005, Ms Doyle was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital where a doctor noted she still suffered from short-term memory loss, the court heard. Mr Keane said she had, for instance, not known how long she had been married, and filled in gaps in her memory by making up stories. She suffered from ataxia, confusion and a fluctuating ability to live normally.

 

In April 2006, she returned home under the care of her husband and later of a care assistant who was able to motivate her to go to the shops and for walks, counsel said.

One of her husband’s biggest concerns was about who would look after her into the future, as he was 14 years older than her, counsel added. Mr Doyle told the court Avril was the “life and soul of the party” when they first met. After she suffered her brain injury, he said: “I was lost.”

 

The case resumes next week.