April 30th, 2009
A couple are suing the NHS for failing to pick up their son’s physical abnormalities in the womb and therefore robbing them of their chances to have an abortion.
The parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a 20-week abnormality scan at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but claim that the sonographer performed in too light-hearted a manner and did not properly look for problems.
The child was born with severe mental and physical disabilities, but the couple claim that had they found out about this at the scan beforehand, they would have aborted the foetus, the Daily Mail reports.
As a result, they are suing Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust for the ‘wrongful birth’ of their son, now 14, in the hope of being awarded a payout for his long-term care.
The trust denies liability and a hearing into the case is continuing.
According to BabyCentre.co.uk, about half of all major abnormalities will be seen on the 20-week scan. If a problem is found or suspected, an appointment will be made with a foetal medical specialist and options such as abortion or operations in the womb will be discussed.
Tags: Abortion, Appointment, Babycentre, Daily Mail, Foetus, Fylde, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Long Term Care, Mail Reports, Medical Specialist, Parents, Physical Abnormalities, Physical Disabilities, Sonographer, Suing The Nhs, Victoria Hospital, Womb, Wrongful Birth, Wyre
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April 30th, 2009
A man who was left permanently brain damaged after hospital staff did not properly treat him for a head injury is to receive more than £1 million in compensation.
Joseph Neale, now 65, fell from a skip in summer 2002 and was taken to North Tyneside Hospital.
Although he was examined by staff, it was not noticed that Mr Neale had bleeding on the brain and he was placed on a general ward.
It was only when Mr Neale’s condition began to deteriorate overnight that he was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital for emergency treatment.
Unfortunately, it was too late to repair the injury and Mr Neale was left with permanent brain damage and now needs 24-hour care.
His daughter Helen Todd took legal action against Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which has now agreed to a seven-figure payout to cover Mr Neale’s care.
"It is incredibly distressing to see someone you love in that condition, but for it to have happened as a result of someone else’s errors makes it even more galling," she commented.
As with all compensation claims, the clinical negligence (including the misdiagnosis of a medical condition) must cause further injury, pain or suffering in order for the case to be successful and a payout to be made.
Tags: 1 Million, 1m, Bleeding On The Brain, Brain Damage, Clinical Negligence, Daughter Helen, Emergency Treatment, Foundation Trust, Head Injury, Helen Todd, Hospital Staff, Left Brain, Medical Condition, Misdiagnosis, Newcastle General Hospital, Nhs, North Tyneside Hospital, Northumbria, Suffering
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April 29th, 2009
A former teacher is suing a council for £700,000 in compensation after her water was spiked with blackboard cleaning fluid.
Shaaira Alexis, 52, was given the mixture by a pupil who had been trusted with a set of classroom keys in February 2005, the Daily Mail reports.
The teacher drank the fluid and felt a burning sensation in her mouth and throat. She had to be taken to hospital to be treated and although she was released on the same day, she claims that the psychological impact was more severe.
"I believe the incident has taken something away from me that I will never get back," Ms Alexis told the high court.
She is suing Newham council for negligence – claiming that it had allowed pupils and teachers to be put at risk – and is seeking £700,000 for injuries, lost earnings and the pension she would have received had she stayed on at the school.
According to the National Union of Teachers, £18 million in compensation was paid out in the UK in 2008 to teachers who were injured, bullied or discriminated against.
Tags: Alexis, Blackboard, Burning Sensation, Cleaning Fluid, Daily Mail, Earnings, February 2005, Mixture, National Union Of Teachers, Negligence, Psychological Impact, Pupil, Pupils, Risk, Water Cleaning
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
April 29th, 2009
Pryers Solicitors has now unveiled its very own bus in York! At a time when most companies are tightening belts, Pryers Solicitors LLP remains extremely busy and is even recruiting for another two solicitors to join its team. The firm specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury work.
Principal Ian Pryer commented: "The bus will continue to spread the word about Pryers. It is part of a much larger advertising campaign that we are running throughout the region."
Pryers Solicitors LLP specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury accidents. If you think you could have a claim in either area, please call the specialists on 0800 316 0166.
Tags: Advertising Campaign, Belts, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury Accidents, Personal Injury Work, Pryer, Running, Solicitors
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April 29th, 2009
The parents of a teenager who died in hospital after being given drugs that were later described as inappropriate have been awarded damages by an NHS trust.
Alexander Newton, 18, had Duchenne muscular dystrophy and was being treated at the Royal United Hospital in Bath in 2005.
However, he was given the strong painkiller cocodamol and the sleeping drug Zopiclone and went on to suffer hallucinations and three respiratory arrests.
Alexander died after 16 days in hospital.
His parents Barrie Newton, 60, and Pamela, 58, took legal action against the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust for clinical negligence after a coroner ruled that the drugs "took their toll" on their son’s health, although they did not kill him directly.
Although the NHS trust did not admit liability, it has agreed to a "considered sum of money" to compensate for the distress caused to Alexander before his death.
Zopiclone is a hypnotic sleeping drug and a side effect listed by RDS Alert is palpitations in some patients.
Tags: Alexander, Barrie, Clinical Negligence, Cocodamol, Coroner, Damages, Drugs, Hallucinations, Health, Muscular Dystrophy, Newton 18, Nhs Trust, Painkiller, Pamela, Parents, Royal Trust, Royal United Hospital, Sum Of Money, Teenager, Zopiclone
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