A recent article by Darragh McDonagh in the Irish Times has brought a concerning patient safety issue to light: the occurrence of wrong-site surgeries within our acute hospitals.
These incidents, which include doctors accidentally operating on a patient’s wrong testicle and, in another case, the incorrect leg, are classified as "never events"; serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if the available preventative measures are implemented.
The Reality of the Data
According to records released by the HSE, four wrong-site surgeries took place in acute hospitals over the past two years:
2024 Incidents: Reported at Connolly Hospital (Blanchardstown), Nenagh Hospital (Tipperary), and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital (Limerick). One of these involved surgery on "reproductive organs/genitalia", understood to be an accidental operation on a healthy testicle.
2025 Incident: Occurred at St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny, involving a patient's mouth (which can include teeth, lips or throat).
Historical Context: These are not isolated tragedies. In 2008, a child had a healthy kidney removed instead of a poorly functioning one. Furthermore, 25 claims related to wrong-site surgery were settled between 2016 and 2020, costing taxpayers over €6 million.
The Call for Accountability
The HSE has stated that the low number of incidents is encouraging while they aim to prevent all such occurrences. However, the Irish Patients Association has strongly criticised this stance, noting that for the four families affected, there is nothing encouraging about these errors.
A representative of the Irish Patients Association has called for an urgent review of the implementation of surgical safety protocols across all acute hospitals and a requirement for the HSE to report publicly on the findings of these reviews.
How Whelan Law Can Support You
Wrong-site surgery is a devastating breach of the standard of care. At Whelan Law, we look beyond the operating table to determine if hospital-wide protocols were ignored or if administrative pressures compromised patient safety. We believe that every patient deserves the absolute certainty that the correct procedure will be performed on the correct site.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a surgical error or a wrong-site procedure, contact Whelan Law today. We are here to ensure that "never events" are met with the accountability and systemic change required to protect future patients.