The High Court has directed the Chief Executive of Children's Health Ireland to appear before it tomorrow to explain why it has delayed releasing the medical records of a child caught up in the spinal surgery controversy.
The court heard six-year-old Luke Ryan still has a spring in his body since having surgery at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in July 2020 and it needs to be removed.
He is one of a number of children taking legal action over what it is claimed are adverse effects suffered after the surgery.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan directed that the CEO of CHI, Eilish Hardiman, should come before the court to explain what the delay in releasing the boy’s records was.
Barrister Karl Sweeney said Luke’s family had requested his medical records, and had also requested them through their solicitor, Raymond Bradley. But they had been told it could take as long as ten weeks to release them.
The judge was asked to grant an injunction to the family compelling the hospital to release the records so the family could seek a second opinion.
Mr Justice Cregan said the lack of communication and replies to inquiries first sent at the start of last month was "a staggering default".
Because of the urgency of the situation, he was directing Ms Hardiman to attend the court tomorrow or at the earliest opportunity.
