Meath mother's death ruled medical misadventure after scans missed brain swelling

A coroner has recorded a verdict of medical misadventure in the death of a 33-year-old mother of three from Co Meath, after inquest evidence revealed that brain scans failed to identify the swelling that ultimately killed her. Stacie Bailey, from Whitefield Manor, Bettystown, died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on 23 November 2023, shortly after emergency surgery to drain fluid from her brain. The civil servant, originally from Skerries, had attended Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda four times in a fortnight, complaining of severe headaches, nausea and vomiting.

What did the scans show?

The inquest heard that a CT scan taken on 9 November 2023 was reported as clear, with no signs of oedema or other critical issues. However, a consultant anaesthesiologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dr Caroline Larkin, told the hearing that when she later reviewed two of Ms Bailey's scans, she believed they showed signs of cerebral oedema, or swelling of the brain. Dr Larkin acknowledged she was assessing the images with the benefit of hindsight, but she still felt some mild swelling was evident, which would typically have prompted further tests.

A consultant radiologist, Dr Tamer Salem, who examined a CT scan taken on 21 November 2023 remotely for a private medical company, said the images were of suboptimal quality. He noted that Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital's radiology department provided only raw data without additional processing, which limited his ability to interpret the images, especially for a patient who was comatose and intubated. Dr Salem admitted he had relied to some extent on the earlier scan from 9 November and, while he considered the possibility of brain oedema, he did not include it in his report due to image quality.

How did Stacie Bailey's condition deteriorate?

Stacie's husband, Darren Bailey, gave emotional evidence about his wife's final days. He described how she became unwell in mid-October 2023, attending her GP and an out-of-hours service with headaches, nausea and vomiting. Despite being prescribed various painkillers, her headaches persisted. On 9 November, she attended the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where she was told her CT was clear and there were no signs of oedema.

The next day, she returned crying with pain but left without seeing a doctor due to lengthy waiting times. She went back again on 14 November, where she waited over 16 hours before being sent home with a prescription for Tylex. On 21 November, she rang her husband at work, saying she felt really bad and unable to move. He brought her to hospital in a wheelchair, where she could not respond to a triage nurse. She fell out of the chair and collapsed shortly after, suffering a cardiac arrest.

Mr Bailey said he was initially told a scan showed everything looked ok, but a further scan revealed fluid on the brain. She was transferred to Beaumont Hospital for emergency surgery, but a consultant later informed him the operation had been unsuccessful and there was no brain function. He had to go home to tell his three children, aged 7, 10 and 13, that their mother was dying. He described how they sang to her, held her hand, and told her how much they loved her.

What did the doctors say?

Several consultants and doctors from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital gave evidence that tests had failed to identify the cause of Ms Bailey's headaches. One possible diagnosis was migraines from taking too many medicines, while another doctor suggested tension headaches. Her consultant endocrinologist, Dr Tomás Ahern, said he did not believe she had suffered a hypoadrenal crisis, a life-threatening adrenal gland condition, at any stage. Ms Bailey had a history of Addison's disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal glands, and had been attending an endocrinologist since 2017.

Dr Larkin, however, said she thought the patient might have been suffering from an Addisonian crisis or some form of chronic meningitis. She added that there was almost no prospect of Ms Bailey's condition being reversed by late on 21 November 2023.

What was the coroner's verdict?

Coroner Dr Clare Keane recorded a verdict of medical misadventure, stating that Ms Bailey died primarily from swelling of the brain in what she described as a very complex case. She stressed that the finding was a neutral verdict and did not attach blame. Dr Keane said she did not see the need for any recommendations but expressed hope that some of the family's questions had been clarified. Addressing the family, she said: 'It was very difficult evidence. I'm extremely sorry for your loss.'

In a closing submission, counsel for the family, Doireann O'Mahony BL, said doctors at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital had placed significant reliance on images reported as normal, which had led to a tragic deterioration in the patient's condition.

What does this mean for patient safety?

This case raises serious questions about the interpretation of scans in Irish hospitals, particularly when image quality is suboptimal. The fact that a consultant radiologist considered brain oedema but did not include it in his report due to image quality is deeply concerning. It also highlights the pressures on emergency departments, where long waiting times may have contributed to delays in treatment. For a family who lost a young mother, the pain is immeasurable. For the rest of us, it is a reminder that behind every scan, there is a person, and behind every verdict, there is a community that mourns.