Files, Records, Documents or Scans missing from the materials released by The Mater Hospital following the High Court Order of 2018.

Affidavit from my solicitor Mr. David Harris to The High Court dated 10th February 2020 (a public document of High Court record) describing a range of missing medical records in the documents released by the Hospital through the High Court discovery process--Please click on link:

https://www.scribd.com/document/451784443/Further-Affidavit-of-David-John-Harris-2824065-2824250-1?secret_password=9mLht5n1AJ4pT1s6G3p4

When The Mater Hospital released Maureen's records to the Dublin City Coroner for the inquest, key medical records for the case were missing from her file.

Maureen's son knew they were missing because he had been present at the medical procedures in question and knew that there should be medical records relating to those hospital visits, tests or procedures. The Dublin City Coroner wrote to The Mater and some of those records were uncovered.

The head gynaecology consultant at The Mater gave evidence at length at the inquest, where he described how one of the key documents in the case--the hysteroscopy note produced in his clinic--was missing from Maureen's file. The document reappeared subsequently.

The hospital was subject to a High Court order one year ago to produce all of Maureen's records. Some records remain missing:

The hospital is required to produce all materials that are in their possession, power or procurement. These records remain missing from the bundle of records released by the hospital following the High Court order of 2018:

1) All original pictures taken during a left colonoscopy 1st August 2008 taken at The Mater Public Hospital.

2) PET scan images 22nd dec 2010--taken at The PET Scanning Centre at the Mater Hospital (which is a public-private partnership) --the facility is located in the Mater Public and The Mater Public has 'procurement' access to materials kept on file in The Mater Private which form the basis of medical care conducted in The Mater Public. This scan was taken into Maureen's medical record at The Mater Public when it was physically copied and sent by the head Gynaecology Consultant at The Mater Public via his Mater Public oncology nurse, to his counterpart in St. James' Public Hospital to secure a second opinion, and in advance of Maureen attending St. James' for formal consultation.

3) CT Contrast scan undertaken at Charter Medical, 8 November 2007. The original scan was provided by Stephen Desmond to Maureen Desmond's Consultant Gynaecologist at The Mater Hospital for permanent inclusion in Maureen Desmond's medical file, and has not been returned as part of the release of documents following The High Court Order. The original scan is important because it can not now be replaced or reconstituted in its original form, produced and saved in the original scanning software. There are numerous email records and letter records to the Mater Hospital itself, and subsequently to the Medical Council that evidence the transfer of these original and extremely important scans into the care of The Mater Public Hospital at the point where it was clear that Stephen intended pursuing a process of complaint in relation to the late diagnosis of his mother with uterine cancer. The hospital has an obligation to take special care to preserve all such records, especially in these circumstances.

4) Images of the Pelvic Ultrasound from Charter Medical on 21 January 2008. The original scan was provided by Stephen Desmond to Maureen Desmond's Consultant Gynaecologist at The Mater Hospital for permanent inclusion in Maureen Desmond's medical file, and has not been returned as part of the release of documents following The High Court Order. The original scan is important because it can not now be replaced or reconstituted in its original form, produced and saved in the original scanning software. There are numerous email records and letter records to the Mater Hospital itself, and subsequently to the Medical Council that evidence the transfer of these original and extremely important scans into the care of The Mater Public Hospital at the point where it was clear that Stephen intended pursuing a process of complaint in relation to the late diagnosis of his mother with uterine cancer. The hospital has an obligation to take special care to preserve all such records, especially in these circumstances.

5) All files & records (paper & electronic), internal and external, of correspondence sent and received in relation to the Coroner's inquest and investigation into Maureen's death, including: all correspondence sent from the hospital directly to Maureen Desmond's family which describe the hospital's compliance with the coroner's investigation and inquest--a process which had come about at the request of Stephen Desmond; and the written requests from The Coroner's Office to the Mater Hospital Risk Management Office for specific missing medical records..

6) And many more key letters & documents--a detailed list is available on request.