£165,000 awarded for NHS medical negligence claim
The victim suffered numerous recurrences of alleged medical negligence over a number of years during his care at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.
Receiving aggressive cancer treatment for an adenocarcinoma, the patient underwent extensive surgery but did not receive sufficient pre or post-operative checks. He was admitted to hospital as an emergency with severe abdominal pain and an anastomotic leak was confirmed. A standard Hartmann procedure was undertaken and he developed a wound infection. The Hartmann procedure was reversed but there was catastrophic bleeding when the inferior mesenteric vein was damaged during the surgery. Despite showing signs of infection following this second surgery, the patient was again discharged to then be admitted the following month with a second leak, widespread infection and the formation of an abscess caused by both the leak and ureter damage. A nephrectomy took place for a chronically infected right kidney. These undetected leaks meant infection and malignant cells were disseminated to other parts of the body causing sufficient harm. A Biopsy confirmed recurrent adenocarcinoma at the site of the colorectal anastomosis. Sadly the patient later died.
The claim was made on behalf of the executors of the estate and the widow of the victim for failure to diagnose and treat with appropriate procedures and surgery . It was a complex claim including general damages; special damages; loss of financial dependency; damages for bereavement; damages for pain, suffering and loss; funeral expenses and compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. GA Solicitors worked tirelessly on the case securing testimonies from numerous medical and care experts to determine what had gone wrong and the resulting impact of any malpractice. Despite liability being denied a settlement of £165,000 was negotiated and agreed by GA Solicitors.