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Boy, 8, settles High Court birth-injury case against HSE for €7.5m

An eight-year-old boy has settled a High Court action over his birth at Cork University Maternity Hospital for €7.5 million, without admission of liability by the HSE.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Irish Independent
Image: The Irish Times

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2An eight-year-old boy who sued over the circumstances of his birth at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) has settled a High Court action for €7.5 million. Left · 1The settlement, to Alex Marcio Hunka Riberio, who now lives in the Czech Republic, is against the HSE and is without an admission of liability. Left · 1Alex, who was born in August 2018, sued through his mother, Magdalena Hunkova.

Left · 1Liam Reidy, senior counsel for the boy instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court it was their case that the mother did not meet a consultant obstetrician from arrival to departure. He said her pregnancy was high risk because of gestational diabetes and a high BMI, and that the hospital's high-risk protocol, including a clear delivery plan, was not followed. Left · 1The claim was that the baby's shoulder became lodged during the birth and that he suffered a right shoulder fracture during a forceps delivery after a labour lasting almost eight hours. It was alleged he suffered an acute hypoxic ischemic episode, needed urgent resuscitation and took his first breath four minutes after birth. Left · 1His side said experts would attribute his neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral and neurocognitive difficulties to an alleged brain injury, and that he had neonatal encephalopathy.

Left · 1The proceedings alleged failures to put in place an agreed delivery management plan, to consider or recommend a Caesarean section given the mother's poorly controlled diabetes, increased BMI and large baby, and to give her adequate advice to make an informed choice of delivery method. Left · 1All claims were denied, and the HSE contended that antenatal care was of a reasonable standard. Left · 1Judge Denise Brett approved the settlement without hesitation, called it a complex case and said she hoped it would bring Alex a better quality of life.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Irish Times gives a detailed court report, naming the hospital and setting out the boy's allegations and the HSE's denial.
Emphasis
Counsel's account of missing consultant care, absent birth plan and the alleged injuries, plus the judge's approval.
Leaves out or plays down
Nothing notable.
For example
“Counsel said it was their case that “all were broken in this case”.” — The Irish Times

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Irish Independent headline reports the €7.5m settlement of the High Court case over the boy's birth.
Emphasis
The settlement amount and the boy's age.
Leaves out or plays down
Headline does not name the hospital.
For example
“Boy (8) settles High Court case over circumstances of birth for €7.5m” — Irish Independent