Compensation recovered for delay in diagnosing a pulmonary embolism
We have successfully recovered compensation on behalf of our client who sadly lost her partner, Mr X, following a delay in diagnosing a pulmonary embolism.
Background
Mr X was initially admitted to hospital after he suffered from two fainting episodes and general unwellness.
A medical review was performed. However a blood test was not repeated. If it had been then it is likely to have showed elevated results in comparison to his previous blood test. Had this further test been done, Mr X would have been fully anticoagulated whilst he waited for an urgent CT pulmonary angiogram, which would have confirmed or excluded a pulmonary embolic disease.
Instead, Mr X was treated for a lower respiratory tract infection and was discharged the same day with oral antibiotics.
10 days later, Mr X collapsed and was taken back to hospital by ambulance. He was noticeably more fatigued and was struggling with his breathing, having experienced repeated coughing fits.
There was a failure to note Mr X’s previous attendance to hospital, which caused a further delay in diagnosing the pulmonary embolism and the subsequent treatment for this condition.
Unfortunately, as there was no escalation in Mr X’s care or treatment, he sadly passed away the following day.
The hospital Trust conducted an investigation and issued a formal apology to our client, Mr X’s partner, which stated that Mr X’s death could have been avoided with an earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The compensation claim
Oliver Thorne, partner and head of our clinical negligence department, took this medical negligence case on under our popular No Win, No fee funding arrangement.
In light of the Trust’s investigation and apology, Oliver issued a Letter of Claim to the Trust’s representatives. The Trust admitted liability, accepting that Mr X should have received the appropriate treatment on his initial admission to hospital, which would have avoided his second attendance and ultimately his death.
The compensation claim was settled out of court by negotiation.
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