May 7th, 2009
A nurse is taking legal action against the hospital where she works, claiming that she almost died after having treatment there.
Susan Melo, 47, has worked at Whittington Hospital in Highgate for three years and was admitted as a patient for a hysterectomy earlier this month.
However, she alleges that staff ignored a family history of thrombosis and gave her an epidural which meant that she could not move her legs for three days.
Ms Melo went on to develop blood clots in both lungs and claims that if she had not had prior medical knowledge, she would not be alive today.
"If I hadn’t been a nurse I would have died. I wouldn’t have been able to challenge them," she remarked.
Ms Melo is now taking legal action against the hospital. A spokesperson said an investigation is being conducted but did not comment further.
Clinical negligence injuries can occur a result of improper medical treatment, mistakes made during surgery, a delayed medical condition diagnosis, bad medical advice, poor dental care and various other problems. Anyone affected should seek legal advice.
Tags: Blood Clots, Blunders, Clinical Negligence, Days Ms, Dental Care, Epidural, Family History, Highgate, Hysterectomy, Legal Advice, Lungs, Medical Advice, Medical Condition Diagnosis, Medical Knowledge, Medical Treatment, Melo, Quot, Spokesperson, Thrombosis, Whittington Hospital
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
December 31st, 2008
A woman whose husband died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has been awarded a substantial sum in compensation for her loss.
John Lambie died from the disease – which attacks the lining of the lungs and affects more men than women – in November 2006, aged 62, Spalding Today reports.
His widow Jayne Beesley sued New Century Group in Surrey, where Mr Lambie worked and was exposed to asbestos and the judge presiding over the case has now ruled in her favour.
Mr Justice Hamblen said that Mr Lambie could have lived for another 20 years had it not been for the cancer and awarded Ms Beesley £253,000, one of the largest sums of compensation ever seen in an asbestos case.
Asbestos was widely used as a building material from the 1950s up until the mid-1980s.
If a person can prove they were exposed to asbestos at their place of work, they may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Tags: 1950s, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Case, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Building Material, Cancer Death, Cancer Mesothelioma, Favour, John Lambie, Lungs, Mid 1980s, Mr Justice, New Century Group, Spalding, Substantial Sum, Sums, Surrey, Woman
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 19th, 2008
An 84-year-old woman has been successful in her bid to secure compensation on behalf of a victim of the industrial disease mesothelioma.
Doreen Brown’s daughter Linda Pyke died in September 2003 from the cancer, which affects the mesothelial cells that cover the outer surface of bodily organs.
Ms Brown was paid a total of £160,000 following a five-year legal battle to secure a payout, the Norwich Evening News reports.
Her daughter had worked as a seamstress dealing with firemens’ jackets which contained the harmful insulating material asbestos.
The dust lay dormant in her lungs for a number of years until she developed cancer at the age of 56.
"I will give [the money] away to charities, my family and friends. My solicitor told me to keep some in case I need to go into a nursing home but if there’s any good that can come from it by giving it away then I will," Ms Brown stated.
Tags: Asbestos, Bodily Organs, Cancer Victim, Charities, Daughter Linda, Family And Friends, Insulating Material, Lungs, Mesothelial Cells, Mesothelioma, Ms Brown, Norwich, Nursing Home, Old Woman, Outer Surface, Pyke, Quot, Seamstress, Solicitor
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 19th, 2008
A hospital has been issued with a fine following an incident in which a worker was exposed to a dangerous chemical while cleaning an X-ray film processor.
The employee had been dealing with the processor for several years without taking the necessary precautions and had consequently come into contact with gluteraldehyde, which can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, as well as problems with the lungs and respiratory system.
During a recent hearing at Boston magistrates’ court, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS trust was ordered to pay £18,500 plus costs of £3,504 after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches.
"Employees should always be made fully aware of precautions to prevent this type of exposure, which could have resulted in long-term health problems for the employee," stated Health and Safety Executive inspector Jo Anderson.
The health trust risked the health of the worker in question by failing to properly identify the danger in this case, she added.
Tags: Breaches, Dangerous Chemical, Film Processor, Gluteraldehyde, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Health Question, Health Safety, Health Trust, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Lincolnshire, Long Term Health, Lungs, Magistrates Court, Necessary Precautions, Ray Film, Respiratory System, Term Health Problems, X Ray
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
