Pregnant mother sues Dublin hospital over eight-month cancer diagnosis delay

Seanagh Rice, a 33-year-old mother of two from Ballyfermot, sued St James’s Hospital after an eight-month delay in diagnosing her invasive breast cancer. A routine MRI in April 2023 identified a sizable abnormality, yet the recommended ultrasound and biopsy were never performed. At a January 2024 review, urgent imaging uncovered the cancer, prompting a left-breast mastectomy while she was 31 weeks pregnant and subsequent chemotherapy after delivery.

Rice, whose mother died of breast cancer and who carries the BRCA2 variant, expressed that the delay robbed her of precious time with her children. Hospital CEO Mary Day publicly apologized, acknowledging the care fell below standards and confirming the hospital’s liability. Justice Paul Coffey noted the settlement resolved the case to Rice’s satisfaction, and the hospital pledged to improve patient safety.