Barts Health NHS Trust: Family devasted by premature death of beloved mother

Background

Irvings Law have successfully secured compensation for a devastated family who lost their beloved relative (‘DW’) as a result of medical negligence.

DW had a medical history of hypertension and myasthenia gravis. She was only 55 years old. In March 2019 DW became unwell at home. Paramedics noted that she was agitated, clammy and complained of severe lower back and abdominal pain and numbness in both legs. They recorded massive fluctuating differences between the blood pressure in DW’s left and right arm and they considered a diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

DW was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital where she experienced sudden onset of severe lumbar back pain. She was unable to walk and lost sensation in her legs. It was suspected that DW had cauda equina syndrome and she was transferred to Royal London Hospital for an MRI scan. Despite the MRI scan ruling out cauda equina syndrome, no further investigation was carried out or diagnosis made at Royal London Hospital.

DW was subsequently transferred back to Whipps Cross Hospital the following day where she was not reviewed for some time. At this point, DW was complaining of severe pain. DW was eventually examined and it was noted that she had abnormal neurological symptoms and a lack of dorsals pedis and posterior tibial pulses. After further tests and examinations, DW underwent a CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis which revealed a Type A aortic dissection.

Following identification of DW’s aortic dissection, no steps were taken to reduce her blood pressure and thereby to reduce the chance of progression or rupture and, in particular, to start an intravenous beta blocker. The plan was to transfer DW to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital for surgical repair of the aortic dissection.  However, DW suffered a cardiac arrest and she passed away.

Representation

DW’s family instructed Simon Brennan to bring a claim against Barts Health NHS Trust for failing to diagnose and treat Type A aortic dissection leading to her death. Simon is the Head of our Clinical Negligence team at lrvings Law and is a member of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme.

Simon and the team at Irvings Law were successful in obtaining compensation for DW’s family and in particular, proving that had DW’s condition been diagnosed, she would have undergone surgical repair of the dissection before her condition caused her death.

It was the Claimant’s case that DW would have lived in excess of 10 years after successful surgery.

Irvings Law are happy that we were able to obtain a successful result for DW’s family though no amount of money will ever be able to remedy the devastating and heart-wrenching loss suffered by her husband, two children, and grandchildren.

Can I Start a Medical Negligence Claim?

If you or someone you know has suffered medical negligence similar to DW’s, such as a failure to diagnose and treat a life-threatening condition, then please get in touch with one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors today.

lrvings Law are specialists in handling medical negligence claims and are committed to securing financial compensation for victims of medical negligence.

We act on a ‘No Win, No fee’ basis. If your claim is successful, the costs will be paid by the Defendant. If the claim is not successful, the costs will be written off and you do not have to pay anything.

Contact us today for a no obligation and confidential chat on 0151 475 1999 or Med.Neg@irvingslaw.com to see how we can help you.