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This article was published on September 1st, 2016
A patient is due to receive £2million in clinical negligence compensation after being left paralysed following a routine hip operation. A clinical error has left the man paralysed and it has had life changing implications.
The man was in hospital having a routine hip resurfacing procedure when an epidural he was given resulted in loss of blood to the spine leaving him unable to walk. Hospital staff were unaware of the damage done by the epidural until two days after the operation when they noticed there was no movement in his body from the waist down.
The hospital accepted responsibility because it could have been avoided if the patients’ blood pressure had been checked more frequently post surgery. An MRI scanned confirmed blood loss to the spine and confirmed he would be permanently wheelchair bound.
The man, who had been a social worker who had cared for people with spinal injuries, is now paralysed and had to take early retirement. It has had a catastrophic impact on his quality of life.
He said: “If you allow anger to eat you up it’s self-destructive. So I’ve had to learn to forgive.”
“No money can replace the loss of your legs, loss of your work, loss of your relationship you had with your partner, loss of ability to be with your children and grandson.
The settlement money will help ensure his home is customised for his needs and pay for ongoing care needs.
A hospital spokesperson said: “We would like to extend our most sincere apologies to …. for what happened in 2010.
“We are pleased that this settlement will support him going forward but we are of course sorry that it has been necessary.
“After serious incidents such as this one, we try to establish exactly what has happened and why. It is using this knowledge that we can prevent similar incidents in the future.”
If you have been unfortunate enough to have experienced a poor medical care during a visit to your hospital then contact us now at Thorneycroft Solicitors today for a free no-obligation assessment of your case on 0800 1979 345 or complete our online enquiry form.
Our medical negligence solicitors are dedicated to maximising the compensation for medical negligence available on a no win – no fee basis.
