A woman has secured a six-figure sum in compensation for injuries she suffered ten years ago when her appendix ruptured following a delayed diagnosis.
She was aged 13 at the time of her illness in 1998. After returning home from school, she started vomiting and experiencing severe abdominal pain. Her mother telephoned the doctor but no home visit was made, only advice given over the telephone.
Over the next two weeks her daughter’s symptoms continued to worsen and she made several more calls to the doctor, but it was 16 days before the girl was seen by a GP, by which time she was seriously ill. She was then admitted to hospital where she was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix that had caused sepsis and peritonitis.
Because her diagnosis had been delayed, the girl required several operations to treat her condition, including the removal of most of her small intestine. This has resulted in her suffering from 'short bowel syndrome', which means that her diet is severely restricted and she has significant digestion problems and diarrhoea.
Also, as a result of the surgery the woman is unable to conceive naturally and will require IVF treatment should she wish to have a baby.
The injuries she suffered were not just physical but also psychological. She had been hoping to go to University after completing her ‘A’ levels, but poor exam results because of her health problems prevented her doing so. Part of her compensation claim was therefore for future loss of earnings.
The GPs involved continued to deny any responsibility for the woman’s condition but the case was eventually settled shortly before coming to trial.
If you are injured as a result of negligent medical treatment, we can help you obtain an appropriate settlement.
