2021
Patient advocate awarded honorary degree at UCC
A tireless patient advocate has today been awarded an honorary doctorate at University College Cork (UCC).
Dr Margaret Murphy’s 21-year-old son Kevin, died in 1999, suffering from hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood), a condition that is treatable in the early stages. When compiling the file in the hospital, a Post-It note containing vital calcium results was stuck to the back of a letter and was not seen until six weeks after Kevin’s death.
Since that time Margaret has devoted her energies to tirelessly working with healthcare professionals on disclosure and the creation of a no-blame culture in the medical fields. She has gone onto represent Ireland at Patients for Patients Safety Ireland (WHO) and has made an extraordinary contribution to the field of Patient Safety and Healthcare quality improvement.
Margaret was awarded an honorary doctorate in Medicine at a ceremony in UCC this morning. In thanking the NUI and UCC, Dr Murphy said that receiving this award from her home town University has special meaning for her as a validation of the global advocacy role which is spearheaded by the WHO Patients for Patient Safety Programme.
“This outreach to me as an individual, also honours our loved ones who have been harmed by healthcare, albeit unintentionally and whose patient journeys have informed the work we do as we strive for excellence so that all people receiving care will be as safe as possible, as soon as possible,” she said.
Commenting, Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC stated;
“Margaret has been an incredibly positive force for change, all the while being understanding of the real challenges clinicians face in a changing world. Her powerful personal testimony as to the series of events that led up to and followed on after Kevin’s tragic death, has had direct personal impact on many healthcare students and professionals worldwide.”
Dr Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health, UCC who delivered the encomium for Dr Murphy said:
"Margaret has had an extraordinary impact in the field of patient safety not only in Ireland but in the UK Europe and beyond, her contributions have been outstanding, and she has made healthcare a safer place for us all - patient and clinician."
Speaking after the ceremony Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health said:
"To lose a child is any parent’s nightmare. Margaret is a truly extraordinary person in the way she has applied the nightmare of the loss of her lovely son Kevin to transforming the culture in our health care settings. She has tirelessly and effectively promoted open disclosure and learning from our mistakes. I am delighted to see her honoured for her contribution to the quality culture in our health services."
Almost 4,700 students will be conferred at UCC during the month of November.