Father of three died from water poisoning after a routine surgery in Ireland
The High Court has heard the case of a father of three who went into hospital for a straightforward day procedure and died of water intoxication after drinking an excessive amount of water.
The family of Sean O’Donnell (59) has settled a High Court action over the business manager’s death at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin five years ago.
Counsel Declan Doyle SC, instructed by solicitor Stuart Gilhooly, told the court that Mr O’Donnell "was unfortunately encouraged and advised to drink excessive amounts of water" while he was in hospital after the procedure, causing him to suffer water intoxication.
Mr. Doyle informed the court that the water intoxication led to cerebral edema, seizures, cardiac arrest, and the death of Mr O’Donnell.
He said Mr O’Donnell had gone to St Vincent’s Hospital on the morning of January 20th, 2020, for the procedure under local anesthesia. Mr Doyle stated that the procedure went smoothly and afterwards Mr O’Donnell was encouraged to drink water.
Mr. O’Donnell was pronounced dead after 7 pm on January 20th, 2020.
Water intoxication or water poisoning occurs when you have more water in your body than needed, causing a chemical imbalance that the body cannot naturally clear out, decreasing electrolytes, especially sodium, in the body.
Noting the settlement and the division of the statutory €35,000 mental distress payment, Mr. Justice Paul Coffey remarked that it was indeed a very shocking case.
Mr O’Donnell’s partner, Gail McGuinness of Stillorgan, Dublin, had sued St Vincent’s Healthcare Group over his death at the hospital five years ago.
In the proceedings it was claimed Mr O’Donnell was advised, encouraged, and allowed to drink an excessive amount of water in a short period of time resulting in water intoxication, cerebral edema, seizures, cardiac arrest, and his death.
It was claimed there was a failure to properly care for, manage, supervise, or treat Mr O’Donnell.
It was also alleged that there was a failure to properly or adequately identify, evaluate, or treat his deteriorating condition or properly or adequately respond to it.
It was claimed Mr O’Donnell was caused to become hyponatremic, which is when the concentration of sodium in the blood is abnormally low.
It was also contended that an excessive oral intake of water was advised within a short timeframe resulting in water intoxication and that there was a failure to monitor or supervise the intake of water by Mr O’Donnell after the procedure.
St Vincent’s admitted a breach of duty of care in the case.
An inquest into Mr O’Donnell’s death heard that such a situation had never occurred before.
The coroner returned a verdict of medical misadventure and confirmed that Mr O’Donnell’s death was an unintended consequence of drinking water, noting that the situation was rare and out of the ordinary.
The coroner also recommended mandatory training in cases of low sodium and for water input and output.
In the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Ms McGuinness and to the O’Donnell family.
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