Case studies

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.

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.

Our medical negligence solicitors are pursuing a claim against an osteopath and radiologist for failing to diagnose a stress fracture to our client's thigh bone. She suffered the fracture whilst running.

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.

A diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome (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.

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.

Our medical negligence solicitors are presently pursuing a claim for a client who went to her GP demonstrating clear neurological symptoms, including loss of balance, lack of co-ordination, persistent vomiting and difficulty speaking.

Our client attended her local A&E with signs of Cauda Equina Syndrome (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.

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

We have recently settled a case in which the NHS Litigation Authority accepted that our client had a high prospect of being cured had she been treated properly. Instead, at the age of 42, she tragically died when a malignant ovarian cyst was not diagnosed for over eight months.

Our client contracted bacterial meningitis, which his local hospital failed to diagnose and treat. As a result, he suffered severe brain damage, demonstrating in weakness down his right side, paralysis and cognitive difficulties.