Molly Cuddihy, a 23-year-old woman, has died following a long battle with a hospital-acquired infection that began when she was a teenager. Her death occurred on Tuesday at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, prompting an investigation by prosecutors.

Cuddihy had been receiving treatment for a rare cancer, metastatic Ewing's sarcoma, at the hospital from January 2018 to 2020. During this time, she developed septic shock, a severe condition that can occur when an infection leads to dangerously low blood pressure. She shared her harrowing experience during her testimony to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry in 2021.

The inquiry is currently examining the construction and safety of the QEUH campus, which includes the Royal Hospital for Children. This investigation was initiated following several deaths linked to infections, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main.

A doctor reported Cuddihy's death to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which confirmed that an investigation is underway. A spokesperson for COPFS stated, "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."

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde expressed their condolences to Cuddihy's family, 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."

Cuddihy was diagnosed with her cancer at the age of 15 and experienced severe complications due to an infection known as mycobacterium chelonae, which she later learned originated from the hospital environment. She described the treatment for the infection as extremely harsh, stating, "The medication had horrible side-effects. I thought chemo was bad, but this was something else. I got a prolonged QT interval with my heart. This is when my heart pumps out the blood, but then doesn't fill up fast enough, so I would often collapse."

Cuddihy noted that both medical staff and patients were unaware of the source of her infection, saying, "I was made sicker by the environment." Her tragic death has raised further questions about hospital safety and infection control measures.