Mediators’ Institute welcomes mediated settlement in Sligo schoolboy case

The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII) has welcomed the approval of a mediated settlement involving a Sligo schoolboy with cerebral palsy who sued the HSE over the circumstances of his birth.

Sabine Walsh, president of the MII, said it was “good to see” that the Mediation Act is working.

Ms Walsh said the Act is “demonstrating that it can deliver quality settlements, which are particularly difficult to achieve in cases that are complex and emotional”.

She added: “It is a very traumatic time for patients and medical professionals alike when medical procedures don’t work out as expected. In the past, such cases often ended up in protracted legal proceedings but the Mediation Act now provides an alternative, speedier and better route to achieve a resolution.

“Mediation facilitates an early opportunity of a ‘safe space’ for the patient and the medical professional to explore what has happened on an emotional and medical level, and the opportunity to explore what possible remedies are open, both medical and financial, to the patient.”

She said mediation is “particularly suited to successfully resolving complex medical cases” and it gives medical professionals “an early opportunity to deal satisfactorily with the emotional trauma involved”.