Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
£175,000 Compensation for Victim of Clinical Negligence Misdiagnosis
22nd August 2008
A woman whose leg had to be amputated at the hip, after doctors initially failed to diagnose necrotising fasciitis, made a successful clinical negligence claim with help from our specialist personal injury lawyers.
Medical Negligence
After attending hospital with severe pain, heat, swelling and some discolouration in her knee, together with a sore throat and loss of voice, our client was told that her knee was strained. She was sent home with painkillers, even though she advised she had not injured her leg, but the pain continued to worsen and the affected area grew larger and became a deeper red colour.
Although the claimant returned to hospital later in the same day, by this point suffering from vomiting and a raised heart rate, she was again discharged. She also visited her GP for further advice, who provided more pain medication and told her to return to hospital if she was still concerned.
The claimant returned to hospital for a third time, by now in excruciating pain with her whole thigh affected and having difficulty breathing. She was assessed as being in critical condition and required aggressive resuscitation. A diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis was finally made and, although extensive medical and surgical treatment was carried out, the doctors were sadly unable to save her leg due to the delay caused by the initial misdiagnosis and it was amputated at the hip. The claimant required extensive rehabilitation, had to retire on the grounds of ill health and was left with a major disability.
Compensation Claim
Our client felt that the hospital were negligent, as it would most likely have been possible to treat her condition without the need for such radical surgery if it was diagnosed earlier.
She appointed our expert medical negligence lawyers to assist her in making a compensation claim against the hospital trust. In addition to recovering damages for the pain, suffering and mental distress caused by her ordeal, compensation was also obtained for the claimant’s loss of present and future earnings, care requirements, modifications to her home and other costs and financial losses she suffered because of the misdiagnosis.
Clinical Negligence Claim Advice
If you or a member of your family has been affected by clinical negligence, you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation. Our lawyers have extensive experience in the field and can provide sympathetic advice.
Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a compensation claim enquiry form online.
Contact us
Testimonials
"It wasn't realistic for me to work any more and the loss of my income placed an additional strain on us."
Jane Evans
Mother of Rebecca
Personal Injury News
