£42,000 obtained for failure to diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease

Posted 07/02/2012

Ashtons Legal medical injury solicitor Benjamin Ward, has obtained £42,000 for a Norfolk lady whose pelvic inflammatory disease was initially mistaken for ‘settling appendicitis’. Mrs A had endured a difficult and prolonged labour whilst delivering her son who was eventually delivered by forceps. Six weeks after the birth she developed abdominal pain and on the advice of her GP went to the same hospital’s accident and emergency department. They admitted her, diagnosed her with ‘settling appendicitis’ and then discharged her without follow up.Several months later, she was still suffering with pain in her abdomen and returned to her GP who in-turn referred her back to the hospital. Keyhole investigative surgery was performed which revealed both fallopian tubes were covered in filmy adhesions. On the advice of the hospital, she underwent bilateral salpingectomy which rendered her unable to conceive naturally.Benjamin comments: “There was a catalogue of errors in Mrs A’s treatment; with appropriate care it is highly likely that she would have been able to have a second child naturally. Taking legal action was for her a last resort when her attempts to get IVF through the NHS were refused even though she had the support of both her GP and consultant gynaecologist. If IVF had been granted Mrs A would never have taken this step. It really is fantastic that now the case has settled, Mrs A can move on with her life and obtain the fertility treatment that her and her husband requested 3 years ago”.Mrs A adds: “I still can’t quite believe it! It’s amazing to think that something we’d almost given up on now might actually happen. Thank you again for all your hard work; the result you’ve achieved for us really is life changing and we can’t thank you enough”.