The family of a woman paralysed by a brain haemorrhage has gone to the High Court in an effort to have her cared for at home.
49-year-old Kathleen Myers from Tallaght was misdiagnosed at St James's Hospital in 2005 as having a migraine headache and sent home.
A day later she had a second brain bleed which left her severely brain damaged.
The case is before the High Court for assessment of damages and her family says any financial award should be sufficient to allow her to be cared for in a home environment.
The court heard that Ms Myers, former civil servant who worked on the Morris Tribunal, suffered a sudden headache and pins and needles on 19 March 2005.
A doctor at St James's Hospital diagnosed migraine headache and discharged her.
Two days later, she suffered what was described as a second ‘catastrophic bleed’, which left her severely brain damaged.
She is now cared for in a unit attached to St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park.
Her sister told the court she is confined to a small space in a room with one or two others and has very little stimulation.
The facilities only allow her to be showered once a week and physiotherapy has been reduced because of cutbacks in the health service.
They also say her personal belongings have gone missing and they want her cared for in a home environment.
As her own home is unsuitable for conversion, they are suggesting that a new house could be built or bought.
Counsel for the hospital asked if the family's request was not unrealistic in that they were proposing to build a ‘mini hospital for one person’.
