Appendicitis Misdiagnosis Claims in Ireland: When a Missed Diagnosis Becomes Actionable Negligence
Appendicitis misdiagnosis claims arise when a doctor or hospital fails to identify appendicitis in time, and that failure causes avoidable harm such as a ruptured appendix, peritonitis, or sepsis. In Ireland, these claims are assessed under the Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91 standard of care test. The condition is one of the most frequently missed surgical emergencies in A&E departments, with research showing the diagnosis is missed in roughly 7% of all emergency presentations and in up to one in three women of childbearing age. Two recent Irish cases show exactly where the line falls: a 7-year-old's ruptured appendix settled for €64,000 with a public apology in , while a GP's gastroenteritis diagnosis on an 11-year-old was upheld as reasonable by the High Court in . Both situations can give rise to a claim: cases where appendicitis was diagnosed as something else entirely (wrong diagnosis) and cases where appendicitis was suspected but not acted on quickly enough (delayed diagnosis).
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Why is appendicitis so often missed?
Appendicitis is missed because its early symptoms overlap with at least six common, less serious conditions. According to a 2023 study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was missed in 7.1% of all emergency presentations and in up to one in three women of childbearing age.
Research published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine found that 33% of women with appendicitis were initially given a different diagnosis, most commonly pelvic inflammatory disease, gastroenteritis, or a urinary tract infection. For children under 12, misdiagnosis rates range from 28% to 57%. For those under two, they approach 100%.
The conditions most frequently confused with appendicitis in Irish emergency departments and GP surgeries include gastroenteritis (the most common wrong diagnosis across all age groups in Ireland), urinary tract infections, kidney stones, ovarian cysts or torsion in women, constipation in children, and flare-ups of existing bowel conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
A point worth noting: the classic textbook pattern of pain starting around the navel and migrating to the lower right abdomen occurs in only about half of all cases. When the appendix sits in an unusual position (retrocaecal, behind the colon), the pain pattern can be entirely atypical, presenting in the flank, pelvis, or even upper abdomen.
Diagnostic scoring: the Alvarado system
Irish clinicians use the Alvarado Score, a 10-point checklist, to estimate the likelihood of appendicitis. It assigns points for pain migrating to the right lower quadrant (+1), loss of appetite (+1), nausea or vomiting (+1), tenderness in the right lower quadrant (+2), rebound tenderness (+1), fever (+1), elevated white blood cell count (+2), and a leftward shift in white cells (+1). A score of 7 or above is considered highly suggestive of appendicitis. In a negligence claim, your solicitor's expert will review whether the treating doctor calculated or considered this score and whether the documented clinical findings should have produced a score warranting further investigation.
Alvarado Score calculator (for educational reference only)
Score: 0/10 Select symptoms above
This is an educational reference, not a diagnostic tool. Always seek medical attention for abdominal pain. If you believe these criteria were present when you were examined but appendicitis was not investigated, this may be relevant to your claim.
For children, the Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) adapts these criteria to account for communication barriers in younger patients, adding factors such as pain triggered by coughing, hopping, or tapping the abdomen.
Appendicitis in pregnancy: the highest-risk misdiagnosis group
Appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric surgical emergency in pregnancy, occurring in roughly 1 in 1,500 pregnancies. Pregnant women face perforation rates as high as 55%, compared to 4 to 19% in the general population, largely because diagnosis is delayed. The growing uterus displaces the appendix upward and laterally, so pain may appear in the right flank or upper abdomen rather than the classic lower right. Standard blood markers are unreliable because pregnancy itself raises white cell counts. CT scanning is typically avoided to protect the fetus from radiation, leaving ultrasound (often inconclusive in later pregnancy) and MRI as the primary imaging options. When a perforated appendix occurs in pregnancy, fetal loss rates climb to between 10% and 35%. For a pregnant woman whose abdominal pain was dismissed as a normal pregnancy symptom, a round ligament strain, or morning sickness, the delay in diagnosis can form particularly strong grounds for a negligence claim.
How quickly does a missed appendicitis become dangerous? We call this the 36-Hour Line
According to peer-reviewed surgical research, the risk of a ruptured appendix reaches approximately 15% after 36 hours of untreated symptoms and increases by roughly 5% for every additional 12-hour window. We call this inflection point the 36-Hour Line because it marks the threshold after which the clinical and legal picture in Ireland changes dramatically.
Before that line, a patient with appendicitis typically needs a straightforward laparoscopic (keyhole) appendectomy. Three small incisions, one to two nights in hospital, and recovery within two to three weeks. After that line, perforation becomes increasingly likely. A perforated appendix releases infectious material into the abdominal cavity. In many cases, the body attempts to contain this infection by forming a periappendiceal abscess, a walled-off pocket of pus that often requires CT-guided drainage before the appendix can be removed safely. If the infection is not contained, it spreads across the abdominal lining, causing peritonitis. Treatment then requires emergency open surgery (laparotomy) through a large midline abdominal incision, extensive washout of the abdominal cavity, and often days of intravenous antibiotics in hospital.
The difference in surgical outcome is directly relevant to compensation. The scarring from an open laparotomy is significant, particularly for younger patients. In women, pelvic infection from a ruptured appendix can damage the fallopian tubes, causing adhesions that block fertility. This consequence has been specifically recognised in Irish settlement outcomes.
When does a missed appendicitis diagnosis become negligence in Ireland?
A missed appendicitis diagnosis becomes actionable negligence in Ireland when the doctor's conduct falls below the standard a competent practitioner of equal standing would have met. Unlike in England and Wales (Bolam/Bolitho), Irish courts apply the Dunne principles from Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91, reaffirmed in Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6.
Under the Dunne test, three elements must be proved on the balance of probabilities:
- Duty of care existed. This is usually straightforward: any doctor treating a patient owes them a duty.
- Breach of duty occurred. The doctor's conduct fell below the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner in their field. An independent expert must confirm that no doctor of comparable skill would have acted as the defendant did.
- Causation is established. The breach directly caused your injury. In appendicitis cases, this typically means proving that timely diagnosis would have allowed a routine keyhole appendectomy, avoiding the perforation, peritonitis, and open surgery that actually occurred.
In appendicitis cases, the defence will often argue the appendix was "destined to rupture regardless" or that its unusual anatomical position made early detection impossible even with ordinary care. Overcoming this requires your expert to demonstrate that timely imaging, such as a CT scan or ultrasound, would have revealed the inflamed appendix before perforation occurred.
The standard of care is measured against the clinical guidelines in force at the time of the incident. The most current international benchmark is the 2025 WSES Jerusalem Guidelines (published January 2026 in JAMA Surgery), which confirm that uncomplicated appendicitis can safely undergo either immediate or delayed surgery depending on clinical status, and explicitly discourage routine abdominal drains for complicated cases. An expert citing these guidelines can demonstrate whether your hospital followed or departed from the accepted standard.
What have Irish courts decided about appendicitis misdiagnosis in 2025 and 2026?
According to the High Court decisions in Mocanu v HSE (June 2025) and Afolabi v Southdoc (February 2026), two recent Irish cases define exactly where the line between reasonable clinical judgment and actionable negligence falls in appendicitis cases. Together, they provide the most useful guidance available for anyone assessing whether they have a claim.
Mocanu (a minor) v HSE [2025] – €64,000 settlement with public apology
Seven-year-old Ariana Mocanu presented to University Hospital Galway in with acute abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her father raised concerns about appendicitis with the treating doctor on several occasions. The hospital diagnosed a urinary tract infection, prescribed antibiotics, and discharged the child after midnight. Nine hours later, Ariana returned with a ruptured appendix and peritonitis requiring emergency open surgery. The HSE settled for €64,000, and the hospital read a formal apology in the High Court in . Source: Breaking News (June 2025).
What this case teaches: Dismissing a parent's explicit concern about appendicitis, combined with premature discharge without ruling out the condition, is a significant breach indicator. Clinicians call this pattern anchoring bias: the treating doctor fixated on the initial UTI diagnosis and failed to reassess when the clinical picture pointed elsewhere.
"Abbie" case (published case study) – approximately €300,000 settlement
A young woman presented to hospital with symptoms consistent with appendicitis but had a pre-existing history of ulcerative colitis. Staff attributed her pain to a colitis flare-up and discharged her. On readmission, a treating doctor queried "complex perforated appendicitis," but this working diagnosis remained unconfirmed for another day. The delayed diagnosis caused a perforated appendix requiring multiple surgeries, over a month in hospital, significant abdominal scarring, chronic abdominal wall weakness, and a recognised psychiatric disorder. The hospital denied liability initially but settled for approximately €300,000 one week before trial.
What this case teaches: A pre-existing condition does not excuse a hospital from investigating acute surgical pathology. When a treating doctor queries appendicitis, failing to act on that suspicion within hours can create strong evidence of breach. This pattern is known as diagnostic overshadowing: the existing diagnosis of ulcerative colitis "overshadowed" the acute appendicitis, delaying recognition of a separate, life-threatening condition.
When is a missed appendicitis not negligence?
Not every delayed diagnosis of appendicitis amounts to negligence, even when the outcome is serious. According to the High Court judgment delivered in , Justice Reynolds made this clear in Afolabi v Southdoc Services Limited & Anor [2026] IEHC 110.
An 11-year-old girl was brought to a SouthDoc out-of-hours clinic with vomiting and abdominal pain. Her mother raised concerns about appendicitis after searching symptoms online. The GP, Dr Rachel Finnegan, conducted a physical examination, diagnosed likely gastroenteritis, but kept appendicitis as a differential diagnosis. Critically, the GP documented red-flag advice (telling the mother exactly which worsening symptoms should prompt an immediate hospital visit), and provided a sealed hospital referral letter marked "Cave appendicitis" (Latin for "beware of appendicitis"). Three days later, the child's appendix perforated. She required a laparotomy, suffered significant scarring and a severe wound infection.
The High Court dismissed the claim entirely. Justice Reynolds found that:
- The GP's primary diagnosis of gastroenteritis was reasonable given the clinical presentation at the time.
- The GP kept appendicitis in her differential and provided appropriate safety-netting advice.
- "Watchful waiting" combined with documented red-flag guidance met the Dunne standard of ordinary care.
- Even if the child had been referred to hospital that evening, the court accepted she would likely have been triaged, her blood tests would have been normal, and she would have been discharged with similar advice.
The court noted that requiring mandatory hospital referral whenever appendicitis appears anywhere in a differential diagnosis "would simply not function" within the Irish hospital system.
The dividing line: Compare the Afolabi case (GP kept appendicitis as a differential, gave documented red-flag advice, provided a referral letter) with the Mocanu case (hospital dismissed the father's repeated appendicitis concerns, diagnosed UTI, discharged without safety-netting). The presence or absence of documented safety-netting is the single most important factor separating defensible clinical practice from actionable negligence.
Who is liable for appendicitis misdiagnosis in Ireland?
The defendant in your claim depends on where the misdiagnosis occurred and who employed the treating doctor. Unlike the NHS system in England and Wales, where claims target an NHS Trust directly, the Irish system works differently.
If your appendicitis was missed in a public hospital (including all HSE and voluntary hospitals), the legal defendant is the HSE. However, the claim is managed on the HSE's behalf by the State Claims Agency (SCA) under the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS). The SCA appoints solicitors and manages negotiations. Your solicitor deals with the SCA's legal team, not the hospital directly.
If the misdiagnosis occurred at a GP surgery, the claim is against the individual GP (and their practice). GPs carry their own professional indemnity insurance, typically through Medical Protection or the MDU.
If your appendicitis was missed at a private hospital or clinic, the claim may run against the hospital, the treating consultant, or both, depending on the contractual arrangements. Private consultants typically carry their own indemnity cover.
How do you prove your appendicitis was negligently missed?
Building an appendicitis misdiagnosis case in Ireland requires your medical records, an independent expert report, and a clear timeline connecting the delay to the harm you suffered.
The process follows these steps:
- Request your complete medical records. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR), you are entitled to a copy of all records held by the hospital and GP. For public hospitals, submit a written request to the hospital's Freedom of Information/Data Protection office. The hospital must respond within one month. There is no fee for personal health records.
- Your solicitor instructs an independent expert. This will typically be a Consultant General Surgeon or, for children, a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon. The expert reviews your records and provides a written opinion on whether the diagnosis fell below the expected standard, using the Alvarado Score criteria, the documented clinical findings, and the timeline of your presentations.
- Proceedings are issued directly through the courts. Medical negligence claims in Ireland are exempt from the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB, formerly PIAB) under s.3(d) of the PIAB Act 2003. Your solicitor issues a Section 8 letter of claim under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, then files proceedings in the High Court.
The timing is critical: the discharge letter or GP consultation note from the day your appendicitis was missed is the single most important document. It shows what diagnosis was recorded, what differential diagnoses were considered, what investigations were ordered (or not ordered), and what safety-netting advice was given. If appendicitis does not appear anywhere in the documented differential, and no red-flag advice was recorded, the evidential foundation for your claim strengthens considerably.
What investigations should the doctor have ordered?
When a patient presents with acute right-sided abdominal pain in Ireland, a competent clinician should order blood tests (full blood count to check for elevated white cells, and C-reactive protein to measure inflammation), a urinalysis to rule out urinary tract infection, and imaging. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging choice, particularly for children and women of childbearing age. If the ultrasound is inconclusive, a CT scan of the abdomen provides over 95% diagnostic accuracy. For pregnant patients, MRI is the preferred alternative. Your expert will assess whether the treating doctor ordered these investigations and, if not, whether omitting them fell below the expected standard.
If your child's appendicitis was missed
Children's appendicitis misdiagnosis claims carry additional considerations. A parent or guardian acts as the child's litigation friend throughout the proceedings. Any settlement must be approved by a judge to confirm it is fair and in the child's best interests. The settlement funds are held in a court-controlled account until the child turns 18. The Mocanu case (above) followed exactly this process.
Hospital triage failures: the ASAU standard in Ireland
Irish public hospitals increasingly use Acute Surgical Assessment Units (ASAUs) to manage patients with acute surgical conditions like suspected appendicitis. According to a 2022 study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, patients with appendicitis seen through an ASAU at an Irish hospital waited an average of 21 minutes to be assessed, compared to 74 minutes through the standard A&E pathway. Time to surgery was 8.8 hours shorter. Six accredited ASAUs currently operate across Ireland, including at University Hospital Galway, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, the Mater, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. If a hospital has an operational ASAU but fails to stream an acute abdomen patient into that unit, the bypassing of its own clinical pathway can constitute strong evidence of a breach of duty.
What compensation can you claim for a ruptured appendix caused by a delayed diagnosis?
Compensation for appendicitis misdiagnosis in Ireland is assessed under the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021), which replaced the former Book of Quantum. The same Guidelines apply whether the negligence occurred in a public or private setting.
| Injury | Clinical context from delayed appendicitis | General damages range |
|---|---|---|
| Severe digestive system injury | Ruptured appendix causing peritonitis, chronic adhesions, bowel obstruction, or stoma | €75,000 to €150,000+ |
| Moderate digestive injury | Perforation requiring open surgery and prolonged infection, with eventual full recovery | €35,000 to €75,000 |
| Significant scarring (abdominal) | Large midline laparotomy scar replacing the three small keyhole scars that timely diagnosis would have produced | €20,000 to €65,000 |
| Incisional hernia (surgical complication) | Hernia at the laparotomy site requiring further repair surgery | €25,000 to €50,000 |
| Recognised psychiatric injury | PTSD, anxiety disorder, or depression resulting from emergency surgery and prolonged hospitalisation | €25,000 to €80,000 |
General damages compensate for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity. Special damages are calculated separately and cover actual financial losses: past and future medical expenses, lost earnings during recovery, the cost of any future corrective surgery, and travel costs for appointments. In cases involving women whose fertility has been damaged by pelvic adhesions from a ruptured appendix, special damages can include the lifetime cost of IVF treatment and associated psychological support. The mechanism is specific: peritonitis from a burst appendix causes inflammation that spreads to the fallopian tubes, creating scar tissue (adhesions) that physically blocks the passage of eggs. This was recognised as a direct consequence of delayed diagnosis in the "Abbie" settlement. For younger women, this head of damage alone can exceed the general damages award.
Between assessment and settlement, the sticking point is usually causation rather than quantum. The defence will argue the appendix would have ruptured regardless of timing. Your expert must prove, on the balance of probabilities, that timely diagnosis would have allowed routine keyhole surgery, avoiding the complications that actually occurred.
How long do you have to bring an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim?
You generally have two years from the "date of knowledge" to bring proceedings in Ireland under s.7 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004. The date of knowledge is the date you knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that your appendicitis was misdiagnosed and that the misdiagnosis caused you harm.
For many appendicitis cases, the date of knowledge is the day the correct diagnosis was eventually made, because the connection between the initial wrong diagnosis and the resulting perforation is usually obvious at that point.
For children under 18, the two-year limitation period does not begin until the child's 18th birthday. This means a child whose appendicitis was missed at age 7, as in the Mocanu case, would have until age 20 to bring proceedings. However, acting early preserves evidence and witness recollections. There is no advantage in waiting.
What should you do right now if you suspect your appendicitis was missed?
If you are currently experiencing worsening right-sided abdominal pain with fever, vomiting, or abdominal rigidity, attend your nearest emergency department now. Bring a written note of when symptoms started, where the pain is, and whether it has moved. Tell the triage nurse you are concerned about appendicitis and ask them to document your concern.
If your appendicitis has already been diagnosed and you believe the earlier missed diagnosis caused you avoidable harm, there are four practical steps you can take today.
- Request your medical records from every doctor and hospital involved. Write to the data protection officer of each facility. Keep copies of your request letters.
- Write down your timeline while your memory is fresh. Note every date you attended a doctor or hospital, who you saw, what you were told, and what treatment you received. Record the names of any family members or friends who were with you and can confirm what happened.
- Preserve any correspondence such as discharge letters, prescription records, text messages about your symptoms, or photos of your surgical scars.
- Contact a solicitor experienced in medical negligence. An initial assessment of your case typically takes one consultation. Your solicitor can then advise whether the facts support a claim and what expert evidence is needed.
If you or your child suffered a perforated appendix after a missed or delayed diagnosis, you can speak with our medical negligence team to assess whether you have a claim. Call 01 903 6408 or request a consultation through our website. There is no obligation.
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement (SI 644 of 2020).
Could I have a claim? A quick self-assessment
This is general guidance only, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
Common Questions About Appendicitis Misdiagnosis Claims
Does an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim go through the Injuries Resolution Board?
No. Medical negligence claims, including appendicitis misdiagnosis, are exempt from the IRB (formerly PIAB) under s.3(d) of the PIAB Act 2003. Your claim proceeds directly through the courts.
What this means for you: You do not need to wait for an IRB assessment before issuing proceedings.
Can I claim against my GP for missing appendicitis?
Yes, if the GP's conduct fell below the Dunne standard of care. However, the Afolabi case [2026] shows that a GP who keeps appendicitis as a differential diagnosis and provides documented red-flag advice may successfully defend the claim. The key question is whether the GP's overall management was reasonable, not whether the initial diagnosis turned out to be wrong.
What makes the difference: Documented safety-netting advice and a conditional referral letter.
Why are women more likely to have appendicitis misdiagnosed?
Research shows that 33% of women of childbearing age with appendicitis are initially given a wrong diagnosis. The overlap between appendicitis symptoms and gynaecological conditions (ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease) means doctors may pursue a gynaecological workup first, delaying the appendicitis diagnosis by 24 to 48 hours. This delay can be the difference between keyhole and open surgery.
Compensation angle: If a ruptured appendix causes pelvic adhesions and fertility damage, the special damages claim can include IVF costs.
Can I claim on behalf of my child if their appendicitis was missed?
Yes. A parent or guardian acts as the child's litigation friend. The limitation period does not begin until the child turns 18, giving you additional time, but acting promptly preserves evidence. Any settlement must be approved by a judge, and the compensation is held in a court account until the child reaches 18.
How long does an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim take?
Straightforward cases where liability is admitted can resolve in 12 to 18 months. Cases against the HSE in Ireland (managed by the State Claims Agency) where liability is disputed can take two to four years. The Mocanu case took approximately three years from the incident to settlement. Complex cases involving disputed causation can take longer.
Can I claim for the scarring from open surgery?
Yes. The large midline abdominal scar from an emergency laparotomy is directly attributable to the delay. Had the appendicitis been diagnosed promptly, a laparoscopic procedure would have left only three small scars. The difference in scarring outcome is a compensable head of general damages, particularly significant for younger claimants.
What if part of my appendix was left behind after surgery?
Stump appendicitis occurs when a surgeon does not fully remove the appendix during an appendectomy, leaving a residual stump that can become inflamed. Symptoms recur, but because the medical records show the appendix was "removed," the possibility of ongoing appendicitis is often overlooked for months. In women, the retained stump can cause pelvic infection and adhesions affecting fertility. If the retained stump exceeds a few millimetres and there was no perforation making complete removal impossible, the incomplete surgery is generally considered a breach of duty.
What type of medical expert is needed for an appendicitis claim?
Your solicitor will typically instruct a Consultant General Surgeon or, for paediatric cases, a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon. The expert reviews your medical records and provides a written opinion addressing specific questions: Was the initial diagnosis reasonable given the documented symptoms? Should the doctor have ordered imaging or blood tests that were not ordered? Would a timely diagnosis on the balance of probabilities have prevented the perforation? What is the long-term prognosis, including any impact on fertility or bowel function? A second expert may be needed to address complications such as fertility damage or psychiatric injury.
Does a hospital apology affect my claim?
A formal apology, such as the one read in court in the Mocanu case, does not constitute an admission of liability in Irish law. However, it can form part of the factual background. The Open Disclosure policy encourages HSE facilities to communicate openly after adverse events. An apology does not prevent you from bringing a claim, and declining an apology does not strengthen one.
Will my own delay in going back to the doctor reduce my claim?
Possibly, but it will not eliminate it. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961, if a court finds you contributed to your own injury by failing to act on red-flag advice or delaying your return to hospital, your compensation may be reduced proportionately. In the Afolabi case, the court noted the family's delay in using the GP's referral letter as a factor in the outcome. However, contributory negligence in appendicitis cases is rarely a complete defence. Where the original misdiagnosis was negligent, your delay in returning is weighed against the doctor's failure to diagnose correctly in the first place. The practical message: do not let the fact that you waited a day or two stop you from seeking legal advice about your case.
What to Consider Next
If you have read this far and believe your situation may involve a missed appendicitis diagnosis, these related guides address the questions that typically come next:
Misdiagnosis Claims in Ireland covers the broader legal framework for all types of diagnostic failure.
Medical Negligence Compensation explains how general and special damages work across all clinical negligence claims.
Breach of Duty in Medical Negligence goes deeper into the Dunne test and how expert evidence is used to prove breach.
Discharged Too Early covers cases where premature A&E discharge caused avoidable harm.
Sepsis Misdiagnosis Claims addresses cases where infection from a ruptured appendix progressed to sepsis.
References
Sources verified as at .
Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91 (Supreme Court). Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6 (Supreme Court). Afolabi v Southdoc Services Limited & Anor [2026] IEHC 110 (High Court, Reynolds J.). Mocanu (a minor) v HSE [2025], High Court settlement, €64,000 (Coffey J.). "Abbie's Case" (published case study), settlement approximately €300,000.
Weinberger et al., "Misdiagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in the Emergency Department," Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (2023). Rothrock et al., "Misdiagnosis of appendicitis in nonpregnant women of childbearing age," Journal of Emergency Medicine (1995). Hannan et al., "The impact of the acute surgical assessment unit on the management of acute appendicitis," Irish Journal of Medical Science (2022). World Society of Emergency Surgery, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Appendicitis: 2025 Jerusalem Guidelines," JAMA Surgery (2026). Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003, s.3(d). Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, s.7 and s.8. Judicial Council, Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021). State Claims Agency, Clinical Indemnity Scheme.
This is general information about appendicitis misdiagnosis claims in Ireland, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts. Consult a solicitor for advice on your situation.
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today