At Oliver & Co Solicitors, we are committed to helping our clients achieve justice, especially when medical negligence has significantly impacted their lives. One of our recent cases involved a family who suffered the devastating and avoidable loss of their beloved wife and mum, due to errors in her medical care.
Case Overview: An ambulance failure to transfer the patient to hospital
The patient had a known history of Addison’s disease, which rendered her more susceptible to infections and she would need to double up her prescribed steroids whenever she was ill. If the patient was ever ill with vomiting, she would need to be admitted to hospital for IV fluids and medications, and she would always recover within a few days.
On the day in question, the patient had developed a UTI and had been prescribed oral antibiotics by her GP. During the evening, she began vomiting and an ambulance was called. By the time the paramedics arrived, the patient was in a lot of pain and had been incontinent of urine. Despite this, the paramedics did not accept the patient’s report of her pain score of being at 9/10, and said they would go off her facial expressions instead, which to them would give her around a 4/10.
The paramedics were told of the patient’s Addison’s disease, but they still decided that she should stay home, suck on ice cubes for water and “ride it out”.
The Impact of Medical Negligence
Later that evening, the patient worsened and was unable to even get up the stairs to bed. Her husband remained downstairs with her during the night so that he could look after her. The patient woke in the early hours of the following morning and told her husband that she felt extremely unwell. She was struggling to breathe and sadly collapsed. Her husband immediately called for an ambulance, and he administered CPR himself for around 30 minutes.
Despite this, the patient could not be saved and she tragically passed away.
Our investigation: Avoidable death
We obtained evidence from an independent Consultant Endocrinologist, who was of the view that the ambulance crew had failed to heed the significance of the patient’s known Addison’s disease. His opinion was that she should have been taken to hospital and had the paramedics done so, the patient would have been admitted and given IV fluids and medications for a few days, and she would have made a full recovery. Tragically, his view was that she had lost approximately 20 years of her life due to medical negligence.
Outcome: Compensation for Prolonged Pain and Suffering
The Ambulance Trust ultimately admitted liability, acknowledging that they should have taken the patient to hospital and that had they done so, she would likely have survived. Our client was awarded £245,000 in compensation for the avoidable pain and suffering of the patient prior to her death, funeral expenses, bereavement damages and loss of dependency for services and childcare.
How We Can Help You
At Oliver & Co Solicitors, we understand the devastating effects medical negligence can have, both on yourself and your family. We are here to support you through every step of the legal process, ensuring that your voice is heard and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Our experienced team of medical negligence solicitors will:
- Thoroughly investigate your case, liaising with medical experts
- Fight for your right to compensation for any injury, loss, or distress caused by substandard medical care
- Offer compassionate, professional advice to guide you through this challenging time
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has experienced medical negligence, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact our specialist team to discuss your case and find out how we can help you. Call us on 01244 312306 or email law@oliverandco.co.uk and we’ll be in touch.
