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 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.

We are pursuing in the High Court a claim arising from a missed diagnosis of renal cancer. Our client has tragically died as a result and we now pursue the claim on behalf of his widow and estate.

We recently settled a case where a client with diabetes had been attending his GP with early evidence of diabetic retinopathy that went undiagnosed.

Our client had suffered from pain in her left knee for a number of years. Following an investigation, she was told she needed to have a total knee replacement (TKR).

We recently secured £35,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement for a client who suffered a bowel perforation that could have been prevented.

Cases involving swabs and instruments do still occur notwithstanding attempts to avoid such incidents. As an example, we acted for a client who underwent major pelvic exenteration surgery for vaginal cancer during which a swab was left in situ.

Following successful surgery in which a large, benign tumour was removed from our 8-year old client's brain by frontal craniotomy, she was transferred to the neurology ward.

Our client had a complicated medical history, with diabetes, hypertension and gallstones. She fractured one of her toes and had a below knee plaster cast fitted and was then admitted to hospital to have her gall bladder removed.

In this case, an elderly patient in hospital with a known bowel obstruction collapsed.

Our client had already had an ectopic pregnancy as a result of which she had lost one of her Fallopian tubes. She later attended a locum GP at her usual surgery, complaining of abdominal pain.

Our medical negligence solicitors acted on behalf of a young man who injured his wrist falling onto his out-stretched hand. He presented to A&E in pain; was x-rayed and told that there was no sign of a fracture. He was not told to come back if the pain continued.