APOLOGY FOR SIDE-EFFECT DEATH

A HOSPITAL consultant has apologised to the family of Dymphna Dykes, a Dublin woman who died from a toxic side-effect of Isoniazid, a drug prescribed to treat her latent tuberculosis.

- BY SEAN MCCARTHAIGH

LIVER FAILURE Dymphna Dykes

Consultant Seamas Donnelly acknowledged that he, along with Ms Dykes' GP and the healthcare system, had let the family down.

A verdict of medical misadventure was recorded at the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the 68-year-old's death on March 26, 2021, at St Vincent's University Hospital.

The postmortem revealed that her death was caused by multi-organ failure linked to Isoniazid's toxic effects on her liver.

Ms Dykes had been prescribed Isoniazid for six months to treat latent tuberculosis, but the recommended monthly liver function tests were not carried out on her.