Our client suffered with bronchiectasis, and as a result, she suffered with recurrent chest infections which required treatment in hospital with intravenous antibiotics.
Our client developed another chest infection and was accordingly admitted to hospital for antibiotic treatment. Amongst other medications, she was commenced on intravenous Gentamicin, and the Microbiologists at the hospital expressly warned that her kidney function and drug levels should be closely monitored due to the risks of Gentamicin toxicity.
5 days after commencing the Gentamicin treatment, the drug level within her blood results was normal. However, by the following evening, her kidney function has worsened, and a blood test revealed that the gentamicin level in the blood was increasing. Her next Gentamicin dose was therefore withheld.
However, on the following day, the Gentamicin was given as described, despite blood results showing worsening kidney function. By the next day thereafter, blood results showed dangerously high levels of Gentamicin within our client’s blood. Her kidney function continued to deteriorate significantly, and our client required admitted to intensive care and a prolonged hospital stay to recover from the Gentamicin overdose.
When our client was admitted home from the hospital, her confidence had been eroded and she required more care and assistance from her family. Sadly, our client passed away within 5 months of the Gentamicin overdose by the hospital.
Within the claims process, the Defendant hospital admitted the mistakes made during our client’s care and that the Gentamicin overdose should have been avoided. We obtained evidence from an independent medical expert which confirmed the family’s belief that had it not been for the Gentamicin overdose, then it was likely that our client would have lived for longer.
Out of Court settlement negotiations led to our client’s family receiving compensation of £15,000.
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