Case studies

• Six figure settlement for negligently performed endoscopic sinus surgery
  We settled a claim for a client who had longstanding sinus difficulties which were attributed to polyps. As conservative management did not improve his symptoms, he underwent surgery to remove the polyps at a private hospital.
• Failure to manage a bone infection after treating a fractured leg
  Our client broke her leg during a charity parachute jump. The fracture did not unite properly and her treating surgeons decided a bone graft was needed. Unfortunately, they neglected to identify an infection in the wound that was diagnosed only when our client experienced severe pain inside her plaster.
• Failure to diagnose sub-acute bacterial endocarditis
  Not all claims relating to infections concern diseases contracted in hospital. In this case, we acted for a client with a known hole in his heart that did not need treatment, but for which he attended regular check-ups because of his increased susceptibility to cardiac infections.
• Failure to monitor patient following excision of brain tumour
  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.
• £225,000 in damages for failure to investigate breast cancer and obtain informed consent on treatment options
  Partner Stephanie Code and associate Elizabeth Maloney have successfully settled a claim for a client whose breast cancer was not properly investigated and who suffered serious complications from a double mastectomy she did not need to have.
• Failure to resuscitate and to operate properly
  In this case, an elderly patient in hospital with a known bowel obstruction collapsed.
• Child's brain damage from excessive glucose
  Our client suffered congenital abnormalities as a result of which he had to undergo extensive surgery shortly following his birth. The surgery itself proceeded smoothly, but after his discharge our client developed necrotising entercolitis for which he had to be readmitted.
• Damages for doctor’s negligence during urinary catheterisation procedure
  We have recently settled a case against East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust involving an incorrectly performed catheterisation which had serious consequences.
• Compensation of £82,500 for negligent surgery resulting in retained appendix stump
  We have settled a claim for a female client whose appendix was not completely removed during surgery for appendicitis. The client presented to A&E due to vomiting and severe pain in her abdomen.
• Early discharge following appendicectomy
  We are advising on behalf of a minor who underwent an operation to remove her appendix and who was discharged from hospital the following day, notwithstanding concerns her mother expressed that our client had a high temperature and was feverish.
• Damages for patient injured due to negligently performed bowel surgery at St Richard’s Hospital
  We settled a claim on behalf of a man from Rustington, Littlehampton against Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust for the injuries he sustained during surgery.
• Settlement achieved for damage to phrenic nerve during aortic valve replacement surgery
  We have recently settled a claim against Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust for alleged damage caused to our 82 year old client’s left phrenic nerve during the course of aortic valve replacement surgery.
• Removal of abdominal tumour leads to substantial settlement for damage to femoral nerve
  Our client was training to be a medical doctor when he was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour. He alleged that he had not been adequately informed about the nature of the tumour, which was likely to be a benign schwannoma.
• Claim settled for bowel injury suffered during subtotal hysterectomy due to misplacement of equipment
  We settled a claim on behalf of a woman from Kent against obstetrician and gynaecologist, Professor Omar Devaja, for the injury caused to her bowel.
• Settlement obtained for negligently performed chest surgery to correct deformity
  We have successfully settled a claim for injuries resulting from negligently performed surgery to correct the chest deformity ‘pectus excavatum’ which is colloquially known as ‘funnel chest’.

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