£100,000 for neglect of baby who died

Feb 23 2005 By Mary Murtagh, Daily Post Correspondent

LIVERPOOL Women's hospital has paid £100,000 compensation after a boy was left brain-damaged by medical negligence.

Lyndsay Carney and Michael Tierney's son Michael was left blind, with cerebral palsy and epilepsy after being starved of oxygen during birth. He died when he was two.

Yesterday the Women's hospital said important lessons had been learned from the tragedy.

Miss Carney said: "I carried my baby for nine months and then I put myself and my child in medical hands and it all went wrong.

"If the hospital staff had done what they should have then I would have a normal and healthy little boy running around now."

A catalogue of errors by medical staff meant Michael was born needing round-the-clock care.

Liverpool Women's hospital admitted responsibility and apologised the day after the two-year-old died, in February last year.

Michael's mother and father only received a £100,000 compensation payout because their son died.

If he had lived their compensation is likely to have run into millions of pounds so they could pay for the care he needed for the rest of his life.Yesterday Miss Carney and husband Michael Tierneyspoke of their heartache for the first time.

Miss Carrney said: "My son Michael was a joy for two years. He was so special.

"I looked after my baby for nine months and then I put myself, and my child, in medical hands and it all went wrong.

"If the hospital staff had done what they should have then I would have a normal and healthy little boy running around now."

A letter admitting medical negligence and an apology from Liverpool women's hospital arrived the day of Michael's funeral.

A copy of it was buried with him.

The £100,000 compensation has been given away to friends and family with a lump sum put aside for his one-year-old brother Connor.

Liverpool Women's Hospital chief executive Louise Shepherd said: "I would reiterate on behalf of the trust our sincere and unreserved apology to Miss Carney and Mr Tierney for the loss of their son. The trust has admitted liability for these tragic events and made every effort to ensure that the claim made against the hospital was settled as quickly as possible so that there could be a speedy conclusion for the family.

"All of the documents in this case were shared openly with Miss Carney and Mr Tierney's

solicitor. In addition, Miss Carney and Mr Tierney met with senior consultants in the trust in order to discuss the circumstances surrounding Michael's birth. I would like to reassure the family that important lessons have been learned from this case and practices changed appropriately.

"Every member of staff in the hospital involved with Michael's birth was devastated by these events. The Trust would again like to extend its deepest sympathies to both Miss Carney and Mr Tierney and their families for the tragic outcome in this case."