Settlement for the widow of a woman whose bowel obstruction was not diagnosed

Amanda Cavanagh, a Medical Negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, has obtained a five-figure settlement for Mr X, whose wife died as a result of a hospital’s failure to identify and treat a bowel obstruction.

Mr X suffered from Alzheimer’s and the claim was brought on his behalf by his daughter and litigation friend.

Prior to the incident, Mrs X cared for her husband at home. She was in good health and undertook all the household chores, including looking after the financial responsibilities of running a home. Mrs X was in good health prior to the index event.

Following a collapse at home, the hospital admitted Mrs X for tests but failed to obtain an urgent senior surgical review, despite considering that her presenting history may be as a result of an acute obstruction of her bowel.

Various tests and results from blood gasses all pointed to a sinister abdominal pathology, but these were not acted upon. As a result, the effect of these failures materially contributed to Mrs X’s death.

It was always considered by the family that Mr X was likely to require specialist care in the future as a result of his Alzheimer’s. However, the move into a care home was substantially accelerated as a result of his wife’s untimely death.

Amanda Cavanagh comments: “The family were understandably distraught over their mother’s unnecessary death and the impact that this would have upon their father and his future care. Although the settlement could not possibly compensate for the loss of his wife, or their mother, in some small way it helped towards relieving the early financial implications of Mr X’s accelerated care needs.”

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