Case studies

We have settled a clinical negligence claim brought for a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer.

We have acted in a claim on behalf of the estate and dependents of the claimant’s late wife in respect of clinical negligence arising out of the care afforded to her by a GP surgery in North Buckinghamshire.

The claimant was reviewed at her GP surgery after an episode of vaginal bleeding. It was noted that this was a ‘one off episode’. A cervical smear and a high vaginal swab were performed to exclude any abnormality.

Our client was diagnosed with a left frontal lobe low grade glioma. He was advised that this was benign and required only monitoring by way of regular MRI scans.

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.

We recently settled a substantial claim for damages for a client who suffered a delay in diagnosis of her breast cancer due to negligent errors in the interpretation of biopsies performed on a breast lump.

Our client had known Atypical Mole Syndrome (AMS) phenotype and was recognised as being prone to skin cancer. She attended her specialist with a basal cell carcinoma on her nose that was wrongly diagnosed as actinic keratosis and was discharged.

We acted for a client who suffered unilateral deterioration of her vision in the early 1990s. She reported this to her optometrist, whom she attended regularly between 1997 and 2004 while her vision continued to deteriorate.

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.

Our client was under the care of his local hospital for an unrelated condition when he noticed a lesion developing in his ear. He complained to his treating doctors who agreed that he needed referral to the dermatology department.

We have acted in a number of cases where administrative errors and oversights have resulted in delays in diagnosing and treating patients, some with tragic consequences. In one case, a client attended his GP with a suspected malignant melanoma. His test results were subsequently misfiled.

Our client’s wife attended her GP for nearly three years complaining of bowel problems. The GP failed to consider colorectal cancer as a potential diagnosis.