HSE Apologizes in Cancer Misdiagnosis Case: Woman's Two-Year Fight for Justice

Irish Woman Receives HSE Apology After Misdiagnosed Smear Tests Lead to Cancer Diagnosis A 38-year-old Irish woman, Leona Macken, has settled a legal action against the Health Service Executive (HSE) after receiving an apology for failures in the CervicalCheck screening program. The apology, read out in the High Court, acknowledged "failings" in two smear tests conducted in 2016 and 2020, which Ms. Macken's legal team argues "led to" her incurable cancer diagnosis. Speaking outside the court, Ms. Macken stated, "It feels great to finally get the apology. I had two misdiagnosed smears; one was 2016, the second one was 2020." She further emphasized the emotional toll, saying, "It's been crazy. I've had to drag my family through all this. I had to look through everything myself." Ms. Macken's case highlights ongoing concerns about the CervicalCheck program and the need for improved accuracy and patient support. The settlement marks a significant step in addressing the failures of the CervicalCheck program and provides some measure of justice for Ms. Macken and her family. However, it also underscores the need for continued vigilance and reform to prevent similar tragedies in the future.