Local Law Firms Home > Medical Malpractice News > $600,000 for Medical Malpractice Victim After 43 Years The practitioner in question was gynecologist Dr Gerard Connolly. "Was" in this case has two meanings, because the Dr. Connolly is now deceased. So the loser in this particular lawsuit is Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The hospital had to pay for causing Olivia Kearney severe pain and lasting psychological damage, and all this for a completely unnecessary procedure which has not been in use in the developing world since the 19th century. Dr. Connolly made Olivia go through a surgical process called Symphysiotomy, which widens the pelvis making it easier to deliver a baby. It would have been arguable at best even if it had been a natural childbirth case, but was completely unwarranted in Olivia's case because she had a Caesarean. Any hope she had for a normal emotional and sexual relationship after that was completely destroyed. What's worse is that she did not even know that a deliberate medical procedure was responsible for all her suffering, for the low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Olivia only found what was going on after 33 years in 2002, when she heard a radio program where other women described themselves similarly after the procedure. She promptly filed sued against the hospital and North Eastern Health Board. The defendants convinced the court to throw out the case because of the long delay. Olivia filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, and justice was finally done after 43 long years when she was awarded $600,000 for the loss of a lifetime of happiness.
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