The HSE and a GP have apologised to the mother of a six-year-old boy for the treatment her young son received after he swallowed a button battery.
Aaron Sikorski was only 13 months old when he swallowed the battery while playing at home, but the High Court heard it was nine and a half days before a chest X-ray was carried out despite visits to his GP and the A&E department of Galway University Hospital.
His Counsel Damien Higgins SC told the High Court that the battery was a common circular battery used in watches and calculators, but it can react with saliva causing a chemical reaction which burns through the oesophagus. Medical help should be sought within 48 hours.
Counsel said the boy ended up having to have an emergency operation to extract the battery and also further reconstructive surgery on his oesophagus.
He remained in hospital for three weeks, having spent time in intensive care.
Counsel said it was their case that the GP should have suspected the boy swallowed a battery and the hospital should have carried out a chest X-ray earlier.
Aaron on Wednesday settled for €220,000 a High Court action over the care he received from a GP and at the hospital emergency department .
Outside court, his solicitor Johan Verbruggen in a statement on behalf of the family said it was every parent’s worst nightmare.
The boy’s mother he said, told multiple doctors over three days, that she feared her one-year-old boy had swallowed a battery.
“A simple x-ray would have confirmed that but the opportunities to arrange one were missed. All the while, the battery was leaking and corroding Aaron’s throat. Simply put, had Marlena been listened to, Aaron would not have suffered these horrific injuries,” he said.
Aaron Sikorski, Galway Road, Tuam, Co Galway had through his mother Marlena Sikorski sued the HSE over the care received at Galway University Hospital and GP Maire McGarry of Tuam Family Practice, Primary Care Centre, Sean Purcell Rod, Tuam, Co Galway in 2018.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that the HSE admitted a breach of duty in the case but causation was still at issue. GP Maire McGarry denied all claims.
As part of the settlement an apology was read to the court on behalf of both defendants.
It said : “ We would like to offer you our sincere apologies for the treatment that Aaron received from us in 2018. We regret the distress and anxiety which you and your family have experienced.”
It added: “We sincerely wish you and your family all the best for the future.”
In the proceedings, it was claimed he became unwell at home on July 25th, 2018 . He had been playing near a drawer where batteries were kept. He started coughing and became quite distressed, and he also vomited. His mother thought he may have swallowed something.
She took him to the GP medical centre, but it was claimed that the possibility of an ingested or inhaled foreign body was allegedly dismissed and there was not a referral to hospital.
The next day, it was claimed that the child was reviewed by the GP, and it was claimed that his mother mentioned her fear he had swallowed a battery. The child also had a high temperature overnight and had vomited again.
The next day, on July 27th, 2018, Aaron was brought to the A&E department of Galway University Hospital. It was noted he had difficulty breathing and that he was not eating.
It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take a proper history and alleged failure to arrange a chest x-ray.
It was claimed that no chest x-ray was performed and the possibility of a swallowed foreign body was allegedly overlooked.
It was further claimed if an adequate history and chest x-ray had taken place, the presence of a button battery would have been identified, and it could have been removed, and the battery would not have leaked, and the child would have been spared harm.
On August 3rd, 2018, the child was referred to the hospital by his GP. Following a review, he was found to have a wheeze and a chest x-ray showed a foreign body. He was taken for emergency surgery and the battery removed. However, he needed further surgery to the oesophagus region.
Against the HSE it was claimed there was an alleged failure to appreciate that the ingestion of button batteries causes serious risks to health and the possibility of a swallowed foreign body was allegedly overlooked.
The HSE admitted a breach of duty, but causation remained at issue in the case.
Against the GP, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to refer the child immediately and urgently to A&E. Ms McGarry denied all the claims and claimed her management of the patient was perfectly reasonable and in line with what most competent GPs would have done in similar circumstances.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said the offer was fair and reasonable.
