Brave widow gets €250k payout over husband op death
surgery: Wife wins court action against HSE
A WOMAN whose 40-year-old husband died the day after he underwent a surgical procedure has secured €250,000 in settlement of her High Court action against the HSE.
Ariuna Rawlings (39) of Kimmage Grove, Dublin, had brought an action seeking damages against St James Hospital, Dublin, and the HSE for the wrongful death of her late husband David Rawlings in January 2000.
Mr Rawlings, an engineer, died the day after undergoing a laparotomy, an investigative procedure involving an incision to gain access into the abdominal cavity.
As part of the settlement, an additional sum of €150,000 has been awarded to Mr Rawlings' first wife, Fiona. Liability had been admitted in the case and it was before the High Court for assessment only.
Yesterday, High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns was informed the case had been settled and could be struck out.
Eugene Gleeson, for Ariuna Rawlings, told the court her late London-born husband David (40) was admitted to hospital on January 24, 2000.
unsuccessful
Following complications with the laparotomy, he died the next day after attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. He had married Ariuna, a native of Mongolia, in 1998 and they were living in Dublin.
Counsel said the deceased had two families. Mr Rawlings was married to Fiona Rawlings in April 1985 and they had a daughter Lucy but that marriage ended in divorce and her late husband was supporting her. Ms Rawlings had a son from a previous relationship.
hnews@herald.ie
- Tim Healy
