Prosecutors in Scotland have launched an investigation into the tragic death of Molly Cuddihy, a young woman whose battle with a hospital-acquired infection began seven years ago amid her fight against a rare cancer. Molly, 23, died on August 26, 2025, in the high dependency unit of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow—a facility now at the heart of a national inquiry into hospital safety and construction standards. Her passing has reignited scrutiny of the QEUH campus, already under the microscope following a series of infection-linked fatalities, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main.
According to BBC Scotland, Molly’s death was reported to prosecutors by a hospital consultant after she was admitted again last month and developed another hospital-acquired infection. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) confirmed, “The Procurator Fiscal has received a report on the death of a 23-year-old woman in Glasgow on 26 August 2025. An investigation into the death is ongoing and significant developments will be shared with the family throughout the investigation.” The cause of Molly’s death has not yet been established, but her family, hospital staff, and the wider community are demanding answers.
Molly’s ordeal began in January 2018 when, at just 15, she was diagnosed with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was preparing for her National 5 exams when her life was upended by the diagnosis, as reported by BBC Scotland News. Molly was transferred to the Schiehallion ward at the Royal Hospital for Children, which specializes in treating young people with blood-borne diseases and cancers. It was during her chemotherapy at the adjoining QEUH that Molly experienced “frightening” shivers and temperature spikes, symptoms later linked to a hospital-acquired infection.
In the summer of 2018, Molly developed septic shock—a life-threatening condition where blood pressure drops dangerously after an infection. She was diagnosed with mycobacterium chelonae, a bacterial infection traced to the hospital environment, likely air or water-borne. The infection was found in the intravenous line used to administer her medication. Molly later told the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, “The medication had horrible side-effects. I thought chemo was bad, but this was something else.” She described how the antibiotics, which she likened to bleach, caused a prolonged QT interval in her heart, leading to frequent collapses. “This is when my heart pumps out the blood, but then doesn’t fill up fast enough, so I would often collapse,” she explained to the inquiry.
Molly’s testimony in 2021 before the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was a pivotal moment. Then 19, she described how her doctors and nurses were as perplexed as she was about the source of the infection. “I was made sicker by the environment,” she said, underscoring the gravity of the hospital’s hygiene and construction issues. She also recalled receiving a letter from the chair of the hospital board apologizing for the hospital-acquired infection, a letter sent to her father in September 2018.
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was established after safety concerns emerged at the QEUH campus, which opened in 2015 at a cost of £840 million. The inquiry’s remit includes investigating mistakes in the planning, design, and construction of the QEUH and another hospital in Edinburgh. It was launched in the wake of deaths linked to infections, including that of Milly Main in 2017. An independent review in 2021 found that 84 children had been infected with rare bacteria at the QEUH, with a third suffering severe health impacts. The review concluded that the deaths of two children were at least partly the result of infections linked to the hospital environment.
Molly’s health never fully recovered from her initial infection and the aggressive treatments she endured. Her previous infections and chemotherapy left her with irreparable liver damage, and in November 2024, she underwent a kidney transplant. When she was admitted again to QEUH last month, her treatment options were limited due to her compromised health. Despite these challenges, Molly continued to inspire those around her with her resilience and compassion.
Throughout her illness, Molly dedicated herself to supporting other young cancer patients. She became a young ambassador for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and, before joining the staff as a volunteer administrator in March 2025, had raised over £300,000 to improve the lives of fellow patients. Her fundraising efforts helped create a new pre-teen common room in the Schiehallion ward and funded ongoing improvements like new loungers. In 2024, she helped launch the cancer podcast “Radio Therapy,” which tackled topics such as mental health, body image, and mortality. The podcast, produced by Go Radio and funded by the charity she co-founded, Every Thank You Counts, provided a platform for candid conversations about the realities faced by young cancer patients.
Molly’s empathy and insight shone through in her media appearances. Speaking to BBC Scotland News, she highlighted the emotional challenges of being a young patient: “People forget you are a person and you very much become the illness, especially when you are young.” She emphasized the importance of simple gestures, saying, “Sometimes it’s all you want and that is such a comforting and amazing message to read.”
Tributes have poured in from across Scotland and beyond. The chairman of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry began a recent day of evidence with a tribute to Molly, noting the team’s “great sadness” at her passing and describing her as “a young woman of great courage, great determination and clear intelligence.” Kirsten Watson, chief executive of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said, “We are heartbroken at the loss of our cherished friend and colleague, Molly. Her devotion to helping children in hospital will always be remembered, and the courage she showed throughout her own journey will remain an inspiration to us all.”
Molly’s family released a moving statement, telling the BBC, “It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our beloved daughter Molly. She was a special soul who brought light, love, and kindness into the lives of so many around her. What we will always treasure is the way she touched others; often without ever realising just how truly extraordinary she was.” They added, “We are devastated by her loss and struggling to comprehend a world without her gentle presence. To us, she will forever be our precious girl: deeply loved, irreplaceable, and always remembered.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also expressed their sympathy, stating, “Our deepest condolences are with the family of Molly Cuddihy during this extremely difficult time. To respect patient confidentiality we are unable to provide further comment.”
The investigation into Molly’s death is ongoing, and her story continues to resonate with patients, families, and healthcare professionals across the country. As Scotland confronts the lessons of hospital safety and accountability, Molly’s legacy—as a patient, advocate, and friend—remains a beacon for change and compassion.
