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Clinical Negligence Clients

Clients we have helped with Clinical Negligence Claims

Below, you will find information about some of the clinical negligence cases we have dealt with in the past.  If your type of case is not listed, we may still be able to help you.

To discuss the individual circumstances of your case call us on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

Our expert clinical negligence solicitors and lawyers will review your case as quickly as possible and let you know if they think we can assist you.

Cleavage sparing mastectomy

The 'Cleavage Sparing Mastectomy' was a procedure carried out by Mr Ian Paterson at a number of Hospitals across the Midlands region.  The procedure involved leaving tissue around the cleavage for cosmetic reasons but the technique went against national guidelines which state that surgery should not leave excess tissue as it could increase the risk of the cancer returning.

Our Clinical Negligence team have already advised a number of women treated by Mr Paterson and have also produced a helpful Factsheet about the Cleavage Sparing Procedure.

One lady, assisted by Thompsons' Clinical Negligence team was a 40 year old from Solihull with 2 children under 18.  She had a mastectomy carried out in 2003 and then had a second mastectomy as a preventative measure the following year - both procedures were carried out by Ian Paterson and were 'cleavage sparing'.

It was only when she contacted the hospital after reading newspaper reports and asked for a medical review that she was advised that the remaining tissue meant there was a 40 to 50% chance of the breast cancer reoccurring.

She had to undergo further surgery to remove the remaining tissue from both breasts.

DePuy Artificial Hip Joints

Thompsons' expert Clinical Negligence Team have already advised many hip replacement patients about their legal rights after they were provided with a defective hip replacement joint.

From 2003 until 2010 DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System were used on thousands of patients undergoing hip operations.  It has since been discovered that these implants were releasing chromium and cobalt metals into the bloodstream which can cause pain, inflammation and in some cases benign tumours.

Patients who had these specific implants fitted face early revision surgery to remove and replace the implants which should have lasted between 10 and 20 years

If you are now facing a second surgery earlier than expected as a result of a DePuy artificial joint deteriorating, then you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim for compensation.

PIP Implants

In the UK; around 40,000 British women received breast implants made by PIP, which have subsequently been found to be prone to rupture. 

Thompsons' expert Clinical Negligence team have already advised a high number of women who have been provided with these implants who have now either suffered a rupture or are very worried about the implants still being present in their body.  We can provide free legal advice about what action you should take to ensure your safety and will also be able to let you know if you have a valid claim for compensation.

Medical Errors resulted in amputation

Our clinical negligence team acted for a woman who suffered a fall and broke her leg.  She underwent surgery and although it was noted that there was poor blood flow around the fracture, the surgeon took no action in connection with this.  The lady developed necrosis (dead tissue) because of the lack of blood supply and her leg had to be amputated above the knee.  She received £95,000 compensation with help from Thompsons Solicitors.

Delayed diagnosis of multiple fractures

We helped a woman who was admitted to hospital after a fall. Despite being examined by a nurse and a doctor, the 3 fractures to her radial head, distal radius and thumb were not identified and no x -rays were taken. By the time the fractures were found, the delay in diagnosis had resulted in the injury being aggravated causing pain and restricted movement affecting everyday life, particularly in activities involving the wrist such as driving. The woman had to reduce her working hours as a result and also had difficulty performing household tasks and hobbies such as knitting. The case settled for £110,000.

Cauda Equina

Our clinical negligence experts recovered compensation for a woman left with terrible injuries after a delayed diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome.  When the woman first consulted a doctor about her back pain and later unusual pain down her right leg and foot, she was prescribed painkillers without any particular tests. When she attended A&E, she was seen by a Neurosurgery registrar who felt that there was no typical Cauda lesion, despite the fact that the lady had near classical symptoms and objective signs of cauda equina compression. The lady had to wait until the following day to receive an MRI scan which we believe contributed to her condition worsening.

As a result of the delay in treatment she suffered a paralysed bladder and bowel together with severe mobility restrictions and a major depressive disorder.  She now needs to live in single storey accommodation and was unable to continue with her employment.  Her care needs have increased and may continue to do so as she gets older. She was awarded £1.25 million.

Delayed Diagnosis of Dislocation

We helped a woman who experienced a fall in her home and dislocated her shoulder. Despite her shoulder being examined by a GP, the dislocation was not detected for 3 months. When the dislocation was finally identified the doctor explained that it would have been a simple procedure to manipulate it back in, but because it was almost 3 months old she would have to undergo a risky operation which could involve bone being taken from the hip to strengthen the shoulder cup. Our client therefore refused surgery due to the risk and was left with a painful and restricted left shoulder. She was awarded £50,000.

Blindness caused by delayed treatment

We represented a young man who experienced various flu-like symptoms including facial pain and swelling around the eyes.  He attended a walk-in centre and was admitted to hospital 4 days later.  His vision became blurred and his eyes became swollen so that he had difficulty opening them.

He was suffering from an infection and an urgent high dose of antibiotics and draining of the sinuses were required.  Had he been given adequate treatment he probably would have ended up with normal vision in both eyes; however the delay in treatment of his symptoms led to total blindness in his right eye, and a visual field defect in his left eye.  This condition had a drastic effect on his everyday life as a chef, causing loss of earnings, and a loss of confidence in hot and busy kitchens particularly due to the lack of peripheral vision. The settlement achieved was £260,000.

Late Diagnosis of Fracture

We helped a delivery driver who fell from the back of a lorry and sustained a serious injury to his wrist. The hospital said it was a sprain but in fact there was a fracture and by the time the fracture was diagnosed it was too late to operate effectively. The driver was paid clinical negligence compensation of £200,000 for the loss of full use of his hand.  Although the compensation helped, his life was never the same again as before the accident.

Delayed Diagnosis of Cancer

We fought a case for a widow who tragically lost her husband, who worked as a hospital porter.  He was told by his GP he may have lung cancer and was referred to hospital for tests. The hospital told him there was nothing to worry about. The family blamed the GP for giving them a false alarm but two years later he was proved right. By then sadly it was too late to operate and he died. His widow made a clinical negligence claim and received substantial damages from the hospital.  The compensation was to make up for the earnings her husband would have made, had he survived.  His wife was very grateful for the compensation but devastated about the loss of her husband.

Complications after surgery

We helped a nurse with a clinical negligence claim who developed complications after a routine gynaecological operation.  The problems were not detected before a lot of harm was done and to compensate for this life-changing mistake, she received £200,000.

Mismanaged Birth

When a child suffered cerebral palsy due to failure by midwifery staff to act on the signs of distress when his mother was in labour, Thompsons decided to assist by making a clinical negligence claim. The court approved payment of an immediate lump sum of £1,150,000, plus payments for his care and equipment needs for the rest of his life at £40,000 per annum until 18, and £110,000 per annum after that.

Bile duct severed during surgery

We fought a clinical negligence case for a man whose gall bladder operation went badly wrong when the common bile duct was severed.  He received £35,000 for the pain and suffering of the additional operations he had to undergo to deal with the mistake.   He also won the right to go back to court for further awards if he developed complications in the future, requiring more major surgery or even a liver transplant which would be possible.

Surgical error caused incontinence

Thompsons helped a security guard who attended hospital for routine prostate surgery and was the victim of clinical negligence. Unfortunately, a locum surgeon made a disastrous error during surgery resulting in the patient suffering permanent incontinence and psychological damage. The hospital quickly admitted liability for the botched operation and he was awarded £65,000 to compensate in only a small way for the drastic changes to his life.

Massive Drug Overdose in Hospital

We fought a clinical negligence case for a retired railway engineer who was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Treatment was commenced but he received a massive drug overdose which caused fatal brain damage. The hospital admitted liability and an out of court settlement of £30,000 was reached for his widow.  The compensation in no way made up for the loss of her husband but did make coping without him a little easier.

Delayed diagnosis of meningitis

Thompsons helped the family of a one year old child who became drowsy with a temperature and was taken to A&E over a bank holiday. They did some tests but decided there were no symptoms of meningitis and sent her home with a sponge so that the parents could take a urine sample. Next morning they came back with the sample but by then she was pale, unresponsive and had a temperature. Within a short space of time she developed a classic meningitis rash and was rushed into recovery. It was too late however and she suffered widespread brain damage. She was awarded £1,200,000 clinical negligence compensation to pay for the care she would need for the rest of her life.

Bladder and Uterus damaged during childbirth

We provided legal assistance to a woman who developed complications during labour and had her baby delivered by caesarean section. This caused damage to her bladder and uterus, which resulted in a hysterectomy being necessary and also emergency surgery to repair the bladder. As a result she suffered from a stroke, a heart attack and was left with disabling chronic fatigue syndrome.  The woman was unable to care for herself or family and was obviously unable to carry any more children. She settled her clinical negligence claim for £800,000.

Loss of sight caused by cataract surgery

When a man of 75 had cataract surgery, the needle used for local anaesthetic pierced his eyeball and he lost the sight in that eye.  Another surgery was carried out to try and repair the damage but this was not successful.  To help with the terrible change to his life, Thompsons helped him to settle his clinical negligence claim for £22,000.

Cerebral Palsy Compensation

Thompsons fought the clinical negligence case of Holly Thornton who was starved of oxygen during delivery causing cerebral palsy. The hospital denied liability throughout but following a settlement conference shortly before trial, settled for £1,340,000. The award was split between a lump sum of £780,000 released immediately to fund the purchase of a specially adapted bungalow and the balance to be invested to produce an annual periodical payment commencing on Holly’s 18th birthday for care, special therapies and special needs equipment.

Misdiagnosis of fractured ankle

We helped a lieutenant who served in the royal navy in the Falkland Islands when he suffered a fracture to his right ankle. The fracture was misdiagnosed as a sprain for a period of some 6 months.  He did eventually undergo surgery to repair the fracture when it was discovered but due to the delay developed secondary arthritis and was medically downgraded and discharged from the navy. The clinical negligence case settled for £100,000 to reflect pain and suffering and loss of earnings and loss of promotion prospects within the navy.

Kidney removed in error

Thompsons helped a 62 year old woman who had a kidney removed in error after doctors wrongly told her that she had cancer. She received £33,650 in clinical negligence compensation after the Hospital admitted full liability for the error.  For a period, the woman thought she was going to die and also underwent an unnecessary operation to remove an important organ.

Negligence of Midwives resulted in Brain Damage

We recovered damages for the parents of a child who was disabled due to the catastrophic brain injury that she suffered at the time of her birth.  The brain damage was caused as a result of the midwives' negligence, and the child died shortly after her 7th birthday.  The family received clinical negligence damages of £275,000.

Undiagnosed DVT

Thompsons fought for the family of a young mother who died as a result of a GP's failure to diagnose a DVT.  The lady died when a clot travelled into her lung and blocked the supply of her blood to her heart. Her husband and 2 children received £275,000 in clinical negligence compensation to help them carry on without her.

Errors resulted in hand clawing

We helped a 60 year old woman, who was a health care worker at the hospital where she underwent surgery, which led to her hand clawing and she received £200,000 in clinical negligence compensation. The hospital failed to try other methods of treating the condition and then failed to refer her for physiotherapy following the operation. She was forced to give up her job and the compensation made up for her lost earnings and changes to her life.

Many clinical negligence cases are shocking and attract national coverage.  Amongst other Thompsons cases the BBC have covered one was regarding misdiagnosis of cancer and another was about the amount of compensation awarded to accident victims.