Tribute and timeline
The husband of Marie O’Mahony spoke warmly of the wife he described as a loving partner, devoted mother, and cherished friend, following a coroner’s finding of death by medical misadventure. Marie, 65, of Rathfarnham, passed away after being treated for a suspected condition during a stay at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin in August 2020. Her husband, Michael O’Mahony, addressed the court with a quiet, poignant tribute to the life they shared since meeting at a Brendan Bowyer concert in 1982 and marrying four years later. He recalled Marie’s warmth and straightforward kindness, noting how she “really appreciated all of the little things that someone would do for her.”
The events began in the early hours of August 24, 2020, when Marie was admitted after coughing up significant amounts of blood at home. The couple’s account to the court described a distressing morning: Marie woke Michael with a coughing fit, then, on her own, went to the bathroom and coughed up blood into the toilet. They rushed to the Emergency Department at St Vincent’s, where she was triaged but not seen for several hours, despite being flagged for rapid assessment given the severity of her symptoms.
Clinical assessments and treatment
Medical evidence presented at the inquest showed that doctors considered a differential diagnosis that included a possible pulmonary embolism, a serious condition requiring urgent care. In line with guidelines for suspected embolism, immersion in immediate therapeutic treatment and the use of blood thinners were part of the initial management. The clinicians also arranged a lung scan to investigate the problem further. Marie had a history of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that can create granulomas and affect the lungs, which complexed the clinical picture and led clinicians to weigh embolism high among possible causes.
Complications during investigation
During the night, while a CAT scan was underway to determine the exact cause of her symptoms, Marie suffered a large pulmonary bleed. This catastrophic event was followed by a heart attack, and she never regained consciousness, dying a few days later on August 27. The coroner’s finding emphasized that the outcome was not intended and did not assign fault; rather, it labeled the events as death by medical misadventure — meaning an intended action occurred but the outcome was not what was expected or foreseen.
Coroner’s ruling and family response
Dr Myra Cullinane, the Dublin District Coroner, clarified that the verdict of medical misadventure does not implicate fault on the part of individual clinicians. It reflects that the care provided followed intended medical actions, even though the result was not as hoped. The inquest, conducted under the shadow of COVID-19 restrictions, also noted the emotional toll of Marie’s funeral and the family’s grief during a period when many ceremonies were constrained by public health measures.
Marie’s husband concluded by describing her as a lady who appreciated the small courtesies of life and a partner who stood by him through years of shared experiences. The case highlights the challenges in diagnosing complex pulmonary conditions when underlying diseases, such as sarcoidosis, can obscure clinical pictures and complicate decision-making in acute care settings.
What this means for patients and care
Health professionals and policymakers may view such inquests as a reminder of the delicate balance between swift action and careful appraisal in emergency medicine. While the ruling does not attribute fault, it underscores the need for ongoing assessment, transparent communication, and strong protocols to minimize risk when multiple potential diagnoses exist. For families like the O’Mahonys, the verdict closes a difficult chapter while preserving the memory of a life lived with warmth, humor, and resilience.
