A terminally ill woman whose cervical cancer diagnosis was missed has received an apology from Taoiseach Micheál Martin on behalf of the government.
Mr Martin, in an unusual manner, stood up in the Dáil prior to Leaders’ Questions on Tuesday and told Patricia Carrick and her family “you have been failed”.
Ms Carrick did not receive an accurate reading of her smear test in 2016 and her cancer has now spread, leaving her terminally ill.
Mr Martin said: “The cancer was missed, it spread and it is now terminal.
“If there had been an accurate reading of this sample, Trish's cancer would have been identified in good time.
“The appropriate treatment would have been given and the chances are that she and Damien would now be reflecting on a worrying time in their lives with the illness well behind them.
“Instead, the HSE and MedLab Pathology have now acknowledged that the sample of 31 May 2016 was read in a manner that was negligent and in breach of duty.”
Mr Martin said he spoke to Ms Carrick’s husband Damien by phone in recent days and President Michael D Higgins has also been in contact with the Galway family.
Mr Martin said: “Damien told me that he wanted to be with her today to listen in to the Dáil.
“I hope they have been able to manage to do so.
“I hope they are together now, listening when I say that on behalf of the Government and the nation I offer my genuine and heartfelt apologies to Trish, Damien, their son Ciaran, their daughters Rioghna and Sorcha, and to Eoin.”
The Taoiseach said the family is going through “the very worst of times because of the mistakes of others.”
He said: “In spite of this, Trish and Damien have carried themselves with great dignity. “Nothing that I say or anyone else says can change the situation they find themselves in, but I hope the genuine and heartfelt apology I offer today will bring them and their family some small measure of solace.”
