Case Study
While giving birth to her only child, our client suffered a series of complications that were not managed appropriately – including acute respiratory distress, hypotension, and a major postpartum haemorrhage. As a result, she sustained permanent damage to her pituitary gland and was later diagnosed with Sheehan’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition causing lifelong hormonal and physical health problems. Her ongoing symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, hormonal dysfunction, and hypertension.
The pituitary gland in the brain is particularly susceptible to damage during a major post-partum haemmorhage because it grows significantly during pregnancy and is the only organ of the brain that has a blood supply through a vein rather than an artery. As a result, if there is a big drop in blood pressure, the pituitary supply will be more affected than other parts of the brain.
Building her case required expert evidence from specialists in obstetrics, anaesthesia, midwifery, and endocrinology. We demonstrated multiple failures in her care, including the hospital’s disregard of its own postpartum haemorrhage guidelines and missed opportunities for early diagnosis. Following protracted negotiations, the case settled for €1 million, providing long-overdue recognition of the harm she suffered.