Ruth Morrissey, one of the women involved in the cervical smear misreading scandal, is suing two laboratories for her injustice.
it's been widely reported that the 37-year-old mum's cancer diagnosis - and those of the other women involved in the cervical check scandal - may have been prevented or treated more effectively if they had known about the cervical cancer earlier.
#MUNvCHE #SUAF family funday pic.twitter.com/YTQCg0UJqP
— Ruth Morrissey (@RuthMorrissey) September 9, 2017
BreakingNews reported that the High Court received Ruth’s medical report today, revealing that she must undergo radical radiotherapy treatments for her cervical and breast cancer.
Ruth’s counsel announced that the mum will receive ongoing treatments and will not know whether they are successful or not for three months.
The report said that 50% of patients who undergo radiotherapy go into full remission.
Ruth Morrissey to undergo radical radiotherapy, High Court hears https://t.co/RysRpVyu2u @IlReporter 6 pic.twitter.com/gUKeAnZPUy
— Irish Quill (@irish_quill) July 31, 2018
Originally, doctors told her she had less than a year to live, but the odds of the treatment have given Ruth recent hope to hold on to, says her counsel.
The mum is remaining strong and fought for the case to continue on August 12th, despite her condition.
"I'm not frightened to die, but I dont want to die"- Ruth Morrissey give more powerful testimony at the High Court today- she's suing HSE and 2 labs over alleged incorrect reporting of smear tests. MORE ON #3NEWS AT 12.30
— Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV3) July 26, 2018
According to the Irish Times, Ruth had to take the witness stand for two days last week and give her personal testimony about the impact her illness has had on her seven-year-old daughter.
She also described the unbearable pain that the cancer has caused her, emotionally and physically.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar commented regarding Ruth’s situation: “This comes back to an issue we have had since the very start, that all false negatives are not negligent.
“False negatives are part and parcel of screening and all of them are not negligence. Indeed, most of them are not negligent.”
The Taoiseach & Government need to get their act together re CervicalCheck scandal. Gov made a promise which appears to be worth nothing. So called mediation system is a sham & women like Ruth Morrissey continue to be dragged through the courts. https://t.co/R65moZjddW
— Willie O'Dea (@willieodeaLIVE) July 30, 2018
The solicitor Cian O’Carroll, who represents some of the women who were victims of the scandal, was outraged by the Taoiseach’s comments.
Copy of Statement released by Ruth Morrissey’s representative regarding the State Claims Agency’s offer this evening of mediation. Shows up the disgraceful behaviour by organs of the state against this woman despite the commitments of @campaignforleo & @SimonHarrisTD. @labour pic.twitter.com/lt85dgP2Xf
— Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) July 27, 2018
He responded by calling Leo “irresponsible” by trying to obscure the truth when talking to the Irish Times.
Meanwhile, the laboratories Ruth is suing for negligence have denied all claims made against them and tried to push the case back until November, says BreakingNews.
Ruth Morrissey's #CervicalCheck case has been adjourned until 18 September. Court heard her pelvic mass has reduced and there is no evidence of disease elsewhere - her doctors will now proceed with radical radiotherapy.
— Michelle Hennessy (@michellehtweet) July 31, 2018
The judge, Mr Justice Kevin Cross, denied the labs' request and set the date for the hearing’s resumption on September 18th.
We hope there is only good news to come for Ruth’s case as well as the rest of the women involved.
