Case studies

• Brain damage following delay in diagnosing signs of heart attack
  Our client had a family history and a number of risk factors for heart attack, including his own weight and cholesterol level. He attended his GP complaining of chest pains, which the GP treated as reflux oesophagitis, but very shortly after leaving the surgery, our client collapsed in the street suffering a heart attack.
• Failure to identify bleeding following heart surgery
  Our client underwent heart surgery after which he was found to be suffering inadequate blood circulation. The hospital failed initially to consider that this might be caused by internal bleeding and it was several hours before this was identified.
• £650,000 damages won for injuries arising from Endologix stent clinical trial
  Our client had a history of non-invasive bladder cancer which was first diagnosed in 1996. Following regular treatment for this non-invasive disease, a bladder scan in June 2011 revealed a large abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Delay in operating on patient with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome
  A diagnosis of CES can be confirmed only with an MRI scan and the condition needs urgent treatment to avoid permanent and severe damage. Our 30-year old client had suspected CES and was admitted to hospital for an MRI scan, but this was delayed by 10 hours.
• Failure to investigate/diagnose Cauda Equina Syndrome
  Our client attended her local A&E with signs of CES. These were noted by the A&E doctor and she was correctly referred to the orthopaedic team. There was a disagreement about the evidence for CES and a senior orthopaedic doctor was therefore involved.
• Negligent delay in diagnosing breast cancer
  We successfully settled a claim for a woman from Redhill in Surrey against her GP for failing to act properly on a lump which she feared might be cancer. The case highlights the need for patients to be persistent where they do not feel their concerns are being fully considered.
• Delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer
  Our client's father and grandfather had both suffered prostate cancer. As he was concerned at his own risk of the disease, he asked his GP to arrange tests, which the GP agreed.
• Injury to bowel as a result of negligent use of laparoscopic ports
  Our client underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of his gall-bladder) due to multiple gallstones. An injury was caused to his bowel which had serious post-operative consequences including a need for further surgery.
• Damages after surgeon fails to remove ectopic pregnancy
  The claimant in this case had undergone laparoscopic surgery to terminate an ectopic pregnancy at an NHS hospital. She was told that the procedure had been fully successful but continued to feel unwell.
• £75,000 settlement for claim against negligent private orthopaedic surgeon
  We have recently settled a case against a private orthopaedic surgeon for inappropriate and technically unacceptable knee surgery.
• Negligent breast reduction surgery
  In this case, a woman elected to undergo surgery to reduce her cup size, but this resulted in significant damage to her nipples because of the procedure and technique the surgeon adopted.
• Negligently performed rhinoplasty
  Our client underwent a rhinoplasty that was negligently performed as too much bone was excised, resulting in a nose graft that should not have been needed.
• Negligence in face lift surgery
  Claims arising from face lift surgery are, sadly, common. We have advised on a number of cases in this area.
• Settlement for pressure sores caused by negligent nursing care
  Our client had long-standing hip degeneration and eventually was told she needed a total hip replacement. Following the surgery it became apparent the wound was infected and investigations revealed she had acquired an MRSA infection whilst in hospital at the site of the surgery in her hip.
• Brain injury caused by ambulance crew
  We were approached by the family of Mr Thomas who died aged 81 in July 2009. He was attended at home in Esher, Surrey, by an ambulance crew to take him to hospital. Whilst being transferred to the ambulance, Mr Thomas was physically dropped and struck his head on a step.
• Failure to resuscitate and to operate properly
  In this case, an elderly patient in hospital with a known bowel obstruction collapsed.
• Patient’s last viable embryo transferred to another woman
  One of our solicitors acted for a woman who received treatment at the IVF Wales clinic in Cardiff. However, due to accident in the laboratory, her last viable embryo was transferred to another patient in error.
• Destruction of embryos in error
  A member of our team advised a couple who had previously undergone fertility treatment at a private fertility clinic. Several embryos were frozen for future treatment but soon after, due to an administrative error, the embryos were destroyed against the wishes of the couple.
• Damage to eggs in the laboratory
  A patient underwent fertility treatment at an NHS clinic. As part of the process, she had several eggs collected to be fertilised in the laboratory but could not be recovered after they were dropped on the laboratory floor.
• Claim against health visitor for missed congenital abnormality
  We acted for a young girl whose health visitor failed to suspect and identify a congenital hip dislocation that should have been detected as part of the health visitor's checks.

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