At Pryers, the North Yorkshire based solicitors, a settlement in the sum of £65,000 was recently handed to a clinical negligence client. The client had an inflammatory bowel condition and was advised to have a bowel resection which involved removal of part of the colon and creation of a colostomy. The operation caused damage to his spleen and he needed a splenectomy (removal of the spleen). Independent medical evidence established that the client did not in fact need to have the operation in the first place as there were surgical alternatives. The defendant settled the case on a global basis, mainly for the pain and suffering.
£12k payout for family of hospital death victim
May 22nd, 2009
The family of a man who died in hospital are to receive a payout of £12,000 after its NHS trust admitted negligence.
Alun Stanton, 71, was diagnosed with pneumonia after being admitted to East Glamorgan Hospital suffering from shortness of breath.
He underwent an operation to insert a chest drain, which the family was told is normally a routine procedure.
However, Mr Stanton died two days later. A subsequent inquest discovered that the drain had been placed too low in the victim’s body, rupturing his spleen and causing the massive internal bleeding that led to his death.
His family took legal action against Cwm Taf NHS Trust, which originally said that it was not at fault for the death.
In a new development, the trust has now accepted that its staff made a mistake and has agreed to a payout of £12,000.
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 should seek the advice of a solicitor.
Family to sue after woman dies in hospital
February 2nd, 2009
The family of a woman who died after a series of alleged mistakes in her hospital care have announced their decision to sue.
Jacqueline Hawkins, 59, started to suffer from health problems in 2001, when she was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.
She underwent a number of different operations at Morriston Hospital in Wales, including one to repair a severed urethra that occurred at the hospital in 2004.
However, her spleen was torn during the surgery and she began to bleed internally. Her blood pressure dropped and she was taken to intensive care.
Ms Hawkins never recovered and she died in November 2004.
After an inquest this week, Ms Hawkins’ family have decided to take legal action against Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Health Trust.
"We are aware the family have lodged a legal claim and the details are currently being considered by our solicitors," said a spokesperson for the trust.
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 should seek the advice of a solicitor.
Payout for family after ‘gung-ho surgery’
January 7th, 2009
The remaining members of a family touched by tragedy due to hospital negligence have been paid compensation for their loss.
Bethany Bowen, five, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for a routine operation on her spleen in July 2006.
However, unbeknown to her parents Claire and Richard, the surgeon performing the operation was a trainee and the team had decided to use an untested piece of equipment on the child, the Daily Mail reports.
Bethany died on the operating table from a ruptured aorta. Tragically, due to stress, her father died of a heart attack 19 months later.
Claire Bowen launched legal action against the hospital, claiming: "If it hadn’t been for the arrogance of the surgeons involved, Bethany would still be alive."
The trust responsible for the hospital recently admitted clinical negligence and has now paid Claire and her two young sons £10,000 as an acknowledgement of their loss.
John Radcliffe Hospital is Oxfordshire’s main accident and emergency site and is the largest of the trust’s hospitals.
