The High Court has approved a settlement of €1.9m plus costs in the case of a 28-year-old woman who died hours after giving birth in Co Mayo.
Nayyab Tariq, who worked as a pharmacist and lived in Ballyhaunis, died at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar on 22 March 2020.
The court heard that she passed away in what were described as "heartrending and devastating circumstances".
Following the birth of her daughter, there were complications while Ms Tariq was undergoing surgery to remove her placenta.
An action was taken by her husband Ayaz Ul Hassan against the hospital for alleged medical negligence and breach of duty.
The couple, who first met in 2014 and married in 2017, began living together in Ireland in early 2018 when Ms Tariq arrived from their native Lahore in Pakistan.
The High Court heard that Mr Ul Hassan was "excited and overjoyed" when his wife became pregnant with their first child in 2019.
On the morning of 20 March 2020, Ms Tariq began to experience contractions.
The couple contacted Mayo University Hospital and were told to come in and Ms Tariq was admitted to the labour ward.
Following the birth of a baby girl later that day, the placenta was retained and required removal in theatre through surgery.
The court was told she suffered a massive post-partum haemorrhage, heavy bleeding after birth, and coagulation, which is clotting of her blood.
Her body went into shock as a result and she suffered cardiac arrest. She lost a total of almost 2.8 litres of blood after birth.
Despite extensive efforts by the medical team, the 28-year-old was pronounced dead four hours after delivering her first child.
In taking the case, her husband alleged the hospital "committed a series of gross breaches of duty, in particular by miscommunication, non-communication and delaying in the recognition and treatment of shock as a result of significant post-partum haemorrhage."
He claimed in the case that the signs of the post-partum haemorrhage were not recognised by the hospital.
In the wake of Ms Tariq's death, the Saolta Group, which runs the Mayo University Hospital, conducted a review of the circumstances.
It concluded that the delay in recognising the signs of her shock from blood loss was a causative factor in her death.
The Health Service Executive has admitted liability over the care Ms Tariq received following her post-delivery transfer to theatre.
An apology was written by the hospital as part of the settlement.
In a letter to Mr Ul Hassan, the Saolta Group said: "We unreservedly apologise for the failings in the standard of care at the hospital, including the poor communication and updates provided during the time Nayyab was in the operating theatre."
"We understand that this apology cannot change or negate the depth of your loss but we wish to assure you that every single recommendation and issue that arose in relation to the standard of care provided is being addressed in full by the hospital."
An inquest into Ms Tariq's death in September 2021 returned a verdict of death by medical misadventure.
The High Court heard today that Mr Ul Hassan’s life "has been completely changed" by the events of 22 March 2020.
He continues to have "difficulty coming to terms with what happened."
The court was told a settlement of €1.9m plus appropriate costs had been reached.
In approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey expressed his "deepest sympathy" to Mr Ul Hassan and his family.
Speaking outside the court, Ayaz Ul Hassan said he is "still processing everything" following his wife's death and, adding: "I don't think it's something that can be put into words."
"it’s just something no one should have to face and go through," he added.
"I never got to experience the fatherhood that I should have and was forced into being a single parent and raising my daughter."
Mr Ul Hassan said he could not have done it without the support of his family and friends.
He said his daughter Nayyab, who was named after her mother, is "doing good, she's very good".
He said she will be four years old in March and she is having a last day of school today before her Christmas break.
"I can’t wait to go back and pick her up."
Nayyab Tariq’s husband also said he hopes lessons have been learned and he hopes management at Mayo University Hospital "do what they have to do to make sure that these events don't happen again."
"To an extent, it puts some sort of closure on it, knowing that the assurances I got from the HSE to make sure that the recommendations are being met and fixes are being put in place to make sure that this does not happen again."
"I hope it doesn't happen again to anyone," he added.
Also speaking outside the court, the family’s solicitor welcomed the acknowledgement by the hospital of "its wrongdoing."
Johan Verbruggen from Callan Tansey Solicitors also said "the State dealt with this case respectfully and an apology has been made to the family for the failings that lead to Nayyab’s death."
He described that "the high of becoming a parent, the excitement for both families in Ireland and Pakistan, in welcoming a baby into the world were torn asunder by Nayyab’s death."
"It is now for hospital management in Castlebar to demonstrate that lessons truly have been learned, that changes have been made and that the circumstances of Nayyab’s death will not be repeated, if they are to restore public confidence in their maternity service. Only time will tell."
