A 28-year-old woman with stage 4 cancer has secured a significant monetary settlement from the Health Service Executive after a radiologist at University Hospital Galway misread her computed tomography scan in 2023, delaying her diagnosis of a rare and aggressive malignancy. Michelle Craughwell’s case was mediated, with the compensation package designed to cover medical fees, counselling, and loss of earnings.
High Court Hearing Details a Missed Diagnosis at University Hospital Galway
Jonathan Kilfeather, instructed by Damien Tansey Solicitors, told the High Court that if hospital staff had read the July 16, 2023, scan correctly, Craughwell would have enjoyed a significantly longer life expectancy. Instead, the tumour went unnoticed for two years until it reached stage 4. Kilfeather informed the court that the patient’s current prognosis is bleak.
Court documents show that Craughwell, a resident of Tuam, County Galway, originally presented to the emergency department at University Hospital Galway with urinary problems and pain. Clinicians performed a CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis, which revealed an adrenal mass measuring approximately 2.3 centimetres. Because staff missed the mass on the imaging, no subsequent treatment plan was put in place.
HSE Issues Unreserved Apology as Tumour Growth Reaches Ten Centimetres
Oonah McCrann, representing the Health Service Executive, read an apology on behalf of Chris Kane, general manager of Galway University Hospitals. The statement offered a sincere and unreserved apology for deficiencies in radiology care that caused the delayed detection of adrenocortical carcinoma, acknowledging the distress and severe challenges the patient faces.
The medical reality of the delay became clear when Craughwell returned to her general practitioner on June 17, 2025, suffering from a fever and upper respiratory tract infection. Suspecting sepsis, the GP referred her back to the emergency department. A follow-up CT scan on June 19, 2025, and an MRI the next day confirmed the adrenal mass had grown to about 10 centimetres in diameter.
Surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital Follows Years of Persistent Symptoms
Medical records filed in the legal proceedings outline a prior history of persistent kidney infections, which included two hospitalizations at University Hospital Galway in 2019 and 2022. Following the 2025 scans, Craughwell underwent surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin in August 2025, requiring far more extensive surgical intervention and chemotherapy than would have been necessary in 2023.
Speaking after the hearing alongside her parents, Fiona O’Toole and Cyril Craughwell, Michelle Craughwell expressed gratitude for the formal apology while voicing deep frustration. Solicitor Damien Tansey noted that because University Hospital Galway functions as a centre of excellence, his client should have received a higher standard of care. Treatment for Craughwell’s ongoing condition continues.
Frequently Asked Questions About the University Hospital Galway Settlement
What specific type of cancer was delayed in its diagnosis?
Michelle Craughwell was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the adrenal glands. Court documents revealed the initial 2.3cm tumour was missed on a 2023 scan and grew to 10cm by the time it was detected in 2025.
What compensation does the settlement provide?
The monetary settlement covers medical fees, counselling services, and loss of earnings resulting from the delayed diagnosis and subsequent advanced-stage treatment.
Where did the original scan take place?
The initial computed tomography scan was performed at the emergency department of University Hospital Galway on July 16, 2023, after Craughwell presented with urinary problems and pain.
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