October 6th, 2009
A surgeon could be facing legal action over a death in hospital after new evidence came to light regarding the incident.
William John Martin, 55, died in 2001 during an operation at the City Hospital, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
Surgeon Dick Donaldson tore the victim’s portal vein and hepatic artery while performing a bladder removal procedure and it is claimed by Mr Martin’s family that this was a result of clinical negligence.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has said it is looking into the death again and may formally reopen the investigation, leaving Mr Martin’s family free to pursue legal action if the surgeon is found to be negligent.
A spokesperson said: "The PPS confirmed that in light of new information which has been brought to its attention it will be meeting with police this week."
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Negligence may occur from delay or failure to diagnose a condition, delay or failure to treat a condition, when a treatment goes wrong, use of the wrong treatment, or failure to obtain consent.
Tags: Belfast Telegraph, Bladder, Clinical Negligence, Dick, Donaldson, Faces, Failure, Health Service, Injury Death, New Evidence, Portal Vein, Pps, Public Prosecution Service, Spokesperson
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September 23rd, 2009
A family is seeking compensation from a Manchester hospital after a woman bled to death during treatment.
Sally Thompson, 20, had a rare blood disorder and had gone into Manchester Royal Infirmary in August 2005 complaining of weakness in her legs.
She was taken to intensive care after beginning to suffer from seizures and medics decided to insert a central venous catheter into her neck to aid with getting medication in.
However, the doctor who inserted the equipment hit Ms Thompson’s jugular vein. Although a request was made for a blood transfusion, it did not come for almost two hours.
By then, the patient had lost three-and-a-half pints of blood and doctors could not save her.
Ms Thompson’s family is to sue the hospital after it was discovered that ultrasound should have been used to ensure the vein was not punctured.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress. Victims may be eligible for compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Blood Disorder, Blood Transfusion, Central Venous Catheter, Clinical Negligence, Doctor Who, Half Pints, Health Service, Injury Death, Intensive Care, Jugular Vein, Legal Advice, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Medics, Ms Thompson, Pints Of Blood, Rare Blood Disorder, Sally Thompson, Seizures, Ultrasound, Woman S Hospital
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September 9th, 2009
A recycling worker from Wiltshire is in line for a seven-figure compensation payment after a botched neck operation left him severely disabled.
Michael Hart underwent surgery to remove a compressed disc at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in September 2008, in what should have been a routine procedure.
However, an error by surgeons led to complications which caused irreversible damage to Mr Hart’s spinal cord.
As a result, he is now confined to a wheelchair, with only limited movement in his hands.
Following his release from hospital in April this year, he began a medical negligence claim against Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, which has now admitted full liability for the mistake made by its staff.
A compensation figure is still to be agreed, but it is almost certain to be more than £1 million, as it will take into account loss of earnings and the cost of long-term care for Mr Hart.
The news comes after the NHS Litigation Authority’s annual report revealed the health service spent £807 million to settle compensation claims in the 2008-09 financial year.
Tags: Compensation Claims, Compensation Payment, Health Service, Hospital Nhs Trust, Irreversible Damage, John Radcliffe Hospital, Litigation, Long Term Care, Loss Of Earnings, Medical Negligence Claim, Michael Hart, Nhs Litigation Authority, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Nhs Trust, Recycling, Routine Procedure, Spinal Cord, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
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July 14th, 2009
A woman whose bowel was accidentally stitched up when she went into hospital to have a routine hysterectomy is seeking compensation from the hospital she holds responsible.
Lynn Main, 55, was admitted to Horton General Hospital in Oxfordshire on May 7th for a three-day stay.
However, during surgery, a doctor mistakenly stitched up her bowel.
Ms Main was left in agony, but was told by hospital staff that she was simply constipated and should eat more.
On May 22nd, her bowel burst and she developed peritonitis. Doctors had to repair the internal injuries with staples in an emergency operation and drained the contents of her bowel manually.
Ms Main and her partner Alan Scott are now suing those responsible for Horton General Hospital for clinical negligence.
"Alan and me both knew that something was seriously wrong but none of the doctors or nurses would listen," she pointed out.
A spokesperson for the hospital said the case is under investigation.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Anyone who has suffered as a result of this should seek a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence claims in order to increase their likelihood of receiving a payout.
Tags: Agony, Burst, Clinical Negligence Claims, Doctors, Emergency Operation, General Hospital, Grandmother, Health Service, Hospital Staff, Hysterectomy, Injury Death, Internal Injuries, Likelihood, Nurses, Oxfordshire, Solicitor Specialising, Spokesperson, Staples, Woman
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July 2nd, 2009
A hospital has apologised to a family and agreed to pay compensation following an incident in which a man died.
Gary Rayner, 46, went into Sunderland Royal Hospital on June 26th 2007 for a routine operation on his lymph nodes after previously beating cancer, the Sunderland Echo reports.
However, on June 30th, Mr Rayner began sweating profusely and then went into cardiac arrest.
Although a crash team was called, they could not resuscitate him and he died at 23:00 BST.
A subsequent investigation revealed that staff failed to provide anti-clotting drugs until June 28th, by which time it was too late for the patient.
Les Boobis, medical director and consultant surgeon of City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, gave evidence to support this and it was ruled that Mr Rayner’s family should receive compensation.
A spokesperson for the hospital said a compensation settlement had been agreed with the family of the deceased.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Tags: Cancer, Cardiac Arrest, City Hospitals, Clinical Negligence, Consultant Surgeon, Crash Team, Drugs, Foundation Trust, Health Service, Hospital Negligence, Injury Death, Lymph Nodes, Medical Director, Rayner, Routine Operation, Spokesperson, Subsequent Investigation, Sunderland Echo
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