Osbornes Helps Client Who Suffers From Permanent Injuries After Negligence Leads To Sepsis

Jodi Newton

Table of Contents

Jodi Newton, Solicitor in Osbornes clinical negligence team, settled a claim earlier this month for her client, who suffered a very serious episode of sepsis and was hospitalised for over two months. He has been left with permanent neurological injuries.

Our client underwent chest surgery to remove a foreign body which had previously caused infection and to treat chronic inflammatory change. It was thought the foreign body may have been a filling which had been inadvertently swallowed by our client. Our client was swabbed to check for the possibility of infection. The swab was mislabelled with the name of a different patient and our client’s swab, which showed a serious infection but went unnoticed due to the mislabelling.

Our client was discharged from Hammersmith Hospital shortly after the surgery.

Six days later, he was admitted as an emergency patient, initially diagnosed with pneumonia. He continued to deteriorate and a CT scan showed significant collapse in his chest. Furthermore, the metal object was shown as still present on the radiology. A brain MRI scan taken after his admission showed multiple enhancing lesions and associated white-matter oaedema, interpreted as being consistent with septic embolic phenomena which is a highly dangerous condition and if left any longer could have proven fatal.

He had suffered a very serious sepsis infection and was an inpatient for over two months. He required extensive rehabilitation. It was our case that if the swab had been appropriately labelled , he would not have been discharged, particularly as his CRP levels (a simple blood test which shows infection) had significantly increased the day prior to discharge. This should have alerted the surgical team to the likelihood of ongoing infection in the lung because it was likely that not all of the foreign body had been removed. His treatment pathway would have been by intravenous antibiotics for 24-48 hours, followed by oral antibiotics and importantly, he would have avoided sepsis and permanent neurological injuries.

The infection identified on the operative swab was the source of the Claimant’s infection which had reached his heart and also caused brain abscesses and suitable treatment would have avoided those serious complications.

Jodi Newton comments:

“My client initially complained to the hospital however his complaint was generally rebuffed and he felt he had no alternative but to instruct solicitors. We obtained evidence from a cardio-thoracic surgeon, a microbiologist and a neurologist who were all supportive of the claim. After we served a Letter of Claim, the Trust denied liability and we therefore served court proceedings which were also defended.

We made an offer to settle this case however the Defendant responded inviting our client to discontinue his case. About six months later, however, the case was successfully settled for a sum of ÂŁ70,000 even though the Defendant continued to maintain its denial of liability.”

Figures from The UK Sepsis Trust highlight that five people die from Sepsis every hour in the UK and 40% of survivors are left with life changing effects. For more information on how to spot the symptoms of sepsis please visit their website.

If you believe that you have suffered injury as a result of poor medical care, contact Jodi Newton or another member of our medical negligence team and we will be happy to have a confidential conversation with you and advice you of any next steps.

You can contact us by phone or by filling in an online enquiry form.

Share this article

Contact

Contact us today

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you

    • [utm_campaign_i][/utm_campaign_i]
      [utm_source_i][/utm_source_i]
      [utm_medium_i][/utm_medium_i]
      [utm_term_i][/utm_term_i]
      [utm_content_i][/utm_content_i]
      [gclid_i][/gclid_i]

    More from JodiVIEW ALL

    1. new born baby
      9.6.2023

      Early Notification Scheme – is it helping or failing...

      What is the Early Notification Scheme? The NHS Early Notification Scheme (“ENS”) has reached its sixth anniversary. Established in April 2017,...

      Read more
    2. The doctor looks at the x-ray
      9.11.2022

      Breast cancer screening mammograms and negligence

      Breast cancer screening has improved significantly in the UK due to research bettering the understanding of this terrible disease, which...

      Read more
    3. Pregnant woman performing cardiotocography CTG
      8.9.2022

      Poor interpretation of CTG can result in stillbirth...

      Poor interpretation of a Cardiotocograph, more commonly known as a CTG, is a leading cause of stillbirth and brain injuries...

      Read more
    4. Female surgeon wearing surgical mask
      14.4.2022

      Severe abdominal pain prolonged due to failed surgery

      Jodi Newton was instructed in a claim against London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust where our client suffered serious...

      Read more
    5. pregnant lady
      17.2.2022

      999 Call Handlers Maternity Instructions Report

      HSIB Report on Maternity Pre-arrival Instructions from 999 Call Handlers The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (“HSIB”) investigate NHS maternity incidents that...

      Read more
    6. Cancer treatment in a modern medical private clinic
      31.1.2022

      Recent cancer misdiagnosis negligence cases

      Osbornes Law specialises in helping families who have suffered due to a delay or missed cancer diagnosis. We represent clients...

      Read more
    7. cute kid with disability playing
      27.1.2022

      Recent cerebral palsy cases

      Osbornes Law specialises in helping families where a child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We represent clients and families...

      Read more
    8. lesiones de nacimiento
      24.1.2022

      Likely settlement of ÂŁ15-20 million for cerebral palsy...

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded £200,000 as an interim payment in a claim against NHS...

      Read more
    9. syringe
      15.12.2021

      Vaccine Related Blood Clots And Delays in Diagnosis

      Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Vaccine Induced Blood Clots The worldwide COVID-19 immunisation programme has been in full swing...

      Read more
    10. Doctor diagnosing patient
      12.11.2021

      Preventing diagnosis delays of lung cancer

      Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer – sadly, it is often incurable. In common...

      Read more
    11. stethescope
      8.7.2021

      Failure to prescribe anti-coagulant medication proves fatal

      Executor of the Estate of DS and another v James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Clinical Negligence team...

      Read more
    12. 18.5.2021

      Cerebral Palsy injuries suffered at birth likely settlement...

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded over ÂŁ375,000 as an interim payment in a claim against...

      Read more
    13. doctor looking at microscope
      12.2.2021

      Patient Safety Investigations

      Duty of Candour Investigating incidents that have led, or could lead to harm is an important safeguard for patient safety...

      Read more
    14. 2.9.2020

      Osbornes help family following a cancer misdiagnosis dating...

      Jodi Newton, clinical negligence solicitor Osbornes Law, recently settled a claim for the family of a lady who died from...

      Read more
    15. 24.7.2020

      Three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was given...

      A three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who doctors thought would never walk took her first steps on day one of...

      Read more
    16. 10.6.2020

      Volunteering for AvMA – a formidable resource and important...

      Early in my career as a clinical negligence solicitor, AvMA, quickly caught my attention. AvMA is a charity and is...

      Read more

    VIEW ALL