2011

Dec 07 2011

Cancer Misdiagnosis Victim Wins Hospital Medical Negligence Claim

Clinical Malpractice in Hospital, Doctor Malpractice in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice

A woman who had her stomach erroneously removed after being misdiagnosed with cancer has won her hospital medical negligence claim and received an undisclosed settlement from Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust.

The 74-year-old woman from Rugeley, Staffordshire, had the surgery in 2004 after doctors told her that a tumour in her stomach was malignant. She later was told by support medical staff that her test results had been misinterpreted and that the tumour was benign.

Due to her operation and long recovery period the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has lost a significant amount of weight and suffers from painful digestive problems. She has been unable to carry on in the voluntary work she did before the operation and now requires regular care and assistance.

The undisclosed out-of-court hospital medical negligence claim settlement has been calculated to include the psychological trauma of being told that she had a life-threatening tumour inside of her and the deterioration in her quality of life due to the unnecessary surgery. It will allow the woman to receive a higher level of care in the future and support to help her recover from her emotional ordeal.

Nov 23 2011

Baby Tube Hospital Medical Negligence Claim Settled

Clinical Malpractice in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice

A couple from Staffordshire have been awarded an undisclosed baby tube hospital medical negligence settlement after their son coughed up a tube which had been left in his throat following a surgical procedure.

Claire Thomas of Cannock, Staffordshire, had just given birth to her son, Owen, at the Stafford Hospital in February 2007 when the error happened. Owen had been a difficult birth, and because he had suffered shoulder dystocia during the delivery, an endotracheal tube had been inserted into his throat to enable him to breathe.

Due to the birth difficulties, Claire and Owen were still in the specialist care unit at Stafford Hospital ten days later when Owen started choking. Claire slapped him on the back, and Owen brought up the six inch tube which had been left in his throat following the procedure.

After taking legal guidance, Claire and her husband, Kevin, filed a hospital medical negligence claim against the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust which has now been resolved for an undisclosed sum. Owen, their son, has luckily suffered no long-term consequences as a result of the hospital oversight.

Oct 21 2011

Brain Damaged at Birth Hospital Compensation Settlement Approved

Birth Injury in Hospital, Cerebral Palsy due to Hospital Negligence, Doctor Malpractice in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice

An eleven year old girl, who was starved of oxygen during her birth and is now permanently brain damaged, has had a brain damaged at birth hospital compensation settlement of 1.75 million pounds approved at the High Court.

The unnamed girl was born at West Sussex Hospital in 2000 but, during her delivery, obstetric staff did not notice signs of foetal distress. The girl is not able to walk or talk, and uses an electric scooter for mobility and a computer to communicate.

“I am constantly amazed by the triumph of hope over adversity” stated Mr Justice Butterfield, as he approved the brain in jury at birth hospital compensation settlement against the West Sussex NHS Trust which includes an immediate lump sum payment of 1.75 million pounds and annual payments to fund a lifetime of care.

Mr Justice Butterfield also had words for the girl´s parents, stating that “The devotion and care of her parents is undoubted and we very much hope that this sum of money will provide her with the very best possible future.”

Sep 09 2011

15,000 Pounds for Missed Severed Tendon Hospital Diagnosis

Clinical Malpractice in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice

A renowned magician, whose doctor´s overlooked a severed tendon in his hand which threatened to end his career, has been awarded 15,000 pounds in an out-of-court settlement of his missed severed tendon hospital diagnosis claim.

Kyle Summers (40) from Burbage, Wiltshire, had gone to the Accident and Emergency Department of the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton after a cup he had been cleaning shattered in his hand. Doctors at the hospital took an x-ray of Kyle´s left hand to make sure that there was no china lodged in his thumb and then stitched the wound up and sent Kyle home.

When Kyle started to experience difficulty performing his magic tricks, he decided to have the hand looked at by his GP, but because the notes made at the hospital indicated that there was no damage to the tendon – even though the cut on Kyle´s thumb had been deep enough to reach the bone – the GP and a physiotherapist decided that the tendon had swollen.

It was after another check-up six weeks later that the true cause of the problem was identified. Kyle had to undergo two operations to insert a rod in his wrist and attach a thicker tendon before the injury started to mend. Only after months of intense specialist physiotherapy did Kyle gain the dexterity in his hand to allow him to work again.

After seeking legal guidance, Kyle sued the George Eliot NHS Trust for medical negligence and, in an out-of-court settlement, received 15,000 pounds for the missed diagnosis of his severed tendon.

Aug 10 2011

London Boy Awarded 6.6 Million Pounds for Hospital Birth Injury

Birth Injury in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice, Hospital Medical Negligence

A young boy, who suffered catastrophic brain damage during his delivery, has had a hospital compensation settlement package approved at London´s High Court.

Leo Whiten (7) from Tooting, London, was born in 2004 at St. George´s Hospital in Tooting but, due to the mismanagement of his birth, sustained brain damage which has left him requiring full-time care as he is unable to stand or walk by himself and has limited speech, which was described in court as non-functional.

St. George´s Healthcare NHS Trust admitted errors in respect of managing Samantha Nowell´s labour – Leo´s mother – and during his birth, and at the High Court in London, Mrs Justice Swift heard expert testimony that Leo will always be totally dependent on the care of others for his daily activities.

Announcing the hospital birth injury compensation settlement package, which consists of a 2.7 million pounds lump payment and staged annual payments, the judge stated that “Leo will never be able to live independently, will not be capable of any form of employment and will never have the necessary mental capacity to be able to manage his own affairs”.

Jul 21 2011

Hospital Birth Injury Cerebral Palsy Girl Awarded 5 Million Pounds Compensation

Birth Injury in Hospital, Cerebral Palsy due to Hospital Negligence, Hospital Medical Malpractice

A twelve-year-old girl, who sustained severe brain damage due to mistakes made during her delivery, has been awarded 5 million pounds in a hospital birth injury cerebral palsy compensation.

Sophie Clarke (12) from Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was born in 1998. However, a gross abnormality of Sophie´s heart rate was not identified, despite it registering on monitoring equipment.

If staff at the Princess of Wales Hospital had noticed Sophie´s condition, they would have intervened and delivery her by Caesarean Section. However, they permitted the birth to continue naturally, causing Sophie to suffer from a lack of oxygen in the womb.

Sophie suffers from traumatic cerebral palsy as a result of the errors made at the hospital and now needs twenty-four hour care, is fed via a tube and is confined to a wheelchair.

Solicitors acting for the family sued the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board for negligence, and in a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court the negotiated settlement of 5 million pounds was approved.

Jun 27 2011

Child Paralysed at Birth Awarded 6 Million Pound Package

Birth Injury in Hospital, Hospital Medical Malpractice

A six year old boy, who is only able to move his eyes after an error in his delivery left him in a quadriplegic condition, has been awarded a 6 million pounds child paralysed at birth compensation package at London´s High Court.

The boy, whose name was withheld in court, suffered severe cerebral palsy due to delays in a caesarean section being performed at Epsom Hospital in December 2004 and now requires around-the-clock care.

Suing Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust through his mother, the boy alleged that their medical negligence had led to his condition and, after an investigation, Mr Justice Eady at the High Court heard that the NHS Trust admittedly liability.

The child paralysed at birth compensation settlement which totals 5,961,199 pounds, is to paid in a lump sum of 2.8 million pounds to pay for the care and specialist treatment he requires now, with further index-linked and tax free payments throughout the remainder of the child´s life.

May 10 2011

1 Million Pounds Hospital Heart Surgery Disablement Compensation

Injured in Accident in Hospital

Two teenagers, who claimed to have suffered disability following hospital heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary when they were children, have each had medical negligence compensation awards of 500,000 pounds approved in the High Court.

The two teenagers – Kristian Dixon (19) and Jessica Johnson (18) – were both babies when undergoing heart surgery at the hospital in 1992 and 1993 respectively. Mr Dixon alleged that brain damage sustained when he was sixteen months caused cognitive and learning difficulties, while Ms Johnson has required permanent care ever since her heart surgery.

It was claimed at the High Court in London that both had sustained hospital brain damage due to professional misconduct by Surgeon Mr James Wisheart and hospital manager Dr John Roylance – who were struck off following a review into the deaths of 29 babies at the hospital between 1988 and 1995 – and Dr Janardan Dhasmana, who was barred from performing heart surgery at a disciplinary hearing in 1999.

In approving the awards, which were agreed by United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust without admission of liability, Mr Justice Owen commended the families of both teenagers for the devoted care they had given over the years.

Apr 21 2011

Multi-Million Hospital Celebral Palsy Compensation Due To 15 Minute Delay

Birth Injury in Hospital, Cerebral Palsy due to Hospital Negligence, Hospital Medical Malpractice

An eight year old boy, who sustained terrible brain damage due to being starved of oxygen at his birth, has been awarded a multi-million pound hospital cerebral palsy compensation package by the High Court in London.

Callum Davies, of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, was born at tAbergavenny in November 2002. A fifteen-minute delay in his delivery starved his brain of oxygen, and resulted in Callum sustaining dyskinetic hospital cerebral palsy and brain damage.

Claiming medical negligence against the Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust through his father Paul, Callum will now need extensive care for the remainder of his life – care which has been provided for him until now by his parents.

The health board which succeeded Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust in 2009 – the Anuerin Bevan Health Board – admitted liability for Callum’s hospital birth injury and issued an apology in front of Mrs Justice Nicola Davies at the High Court.

Announcing details of the hospital cerebral palsy compensation package, Judge Davies approved an immediate payment of 2.275 million pounds in order to adapt the family home and provide an education programme for Callum. Further annual payments will be made by the NHS Trust to cover the cost of his future care.

Addressing Callum’s parents in court, the judge went on to say “It is clear that the care which you and your wife have given is of the highest order. I know that Callum’s injuries have impacted on you and your whole family as a unit and that is something which at times is very, very difficult for families. I am well aware that the settlement approved by the court is not the complete answer, but what I do hope for the family is that these monies will make life easier”.

Mar 06 2011

Hospital Disability Compensation Award Set At 1.5 Million Pounds

Hospital Medical Malpractice

Disabled Stuart Morley, 29, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, could be the recipient of more than 1.5 million pounds in hospital disability compensation, after an out of court agreement was reached in his medical negligence claim against the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust.

Stuart, who has suffered from learning difficulties during his life, was fitted with a colostomy bag at the age of 11 after he was diagnosed with chronic constipation with overflow. In 2002, he was referred to St. Marks Hospital in Middlesex, where he was advised that the surgical procedure could be reversed.

However surgeons incorrectly closed Stuart’s bowel, which inevitably burst causing Stuart to suffer life threatening peritonitis and septicaemia, and requiring further extensive surgery to repair the damage.

After almost a decade of seeking hospitality disability compensation for his injuries, Stuart’s family have now reached agreement with the NHS Trust and will receive an immediate lump sum payment of 500,000 pounds, with further annual amounts of 25,000 pounds for the remainder of Stuart’s life.

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