A High Court action over the death of a 21-year-old woman who developed breathing difficulties while being transferred from her bed to a wheelchair in a hoist has been settled.
Jessica Bingham from Ballyogan Crescent in Leopardstown in Dublin had spina bifida and was being cared for at her home prior to her death on 10 December 2014.
Details of the settlement, made without admission of liability, were not disclosed.
The woman's mother, Lisa Alganhad sued the HSE and home care provider Resot Limited, trading as Contact Care with offices at The Grange, Stillorgan, Co Dublin. Senior Counsel Bruce Antoniotti said Jessica had spent a number of months in hospital in 2012 after an episode of respiratory failure.
She was diagnosed as suffering from obesity hypoventilation syndrome. She was allowed home from the National Rehabilitation Centre provided she had two carers.
It was claimed that two carers had attended her home on 3 December but that during the course of a transfer from her bed to a wheelchair using a hoist and sling and with one carer present, she suffered respiratory arrest.
It was alleged that ineffective attempts to resuscitate Jessica were made while she was in the wheelchair and a neighbour had administered chest compressions after she was placed on the ground.
It was also claimed there was an alleged failure to provide a safe system of home nursing care and home care including the transfer from her bed to a wheelchair given her condition and her need for oxygen therapy.
It was also claimed there was a failure to treat her respiratory failure.
All claims were denied and details of the mother's settlement were not disclosed. The case was before the court for the division of the statutory mental distress payment only.
