Spinal Injury
If the spinal cord is damaged as a result of clinical negligence, the result can be partial or complete paralysis. This can have a devastating effect on the life of the patient, not to mention their family. Spinal injuries and spinal cord injuries are very serious and can have a life-changing effect on the patient. Two of the most common causes of clinical negligence claims in this area are complications of medical treatment or surgery and misdiagnosis or delayed treatment of a spinal injury.
Here are some examples of the spinal injury claims we have settled:
Failure to diagnose a spinal tumor
Hay & Kilner recently settled a claim for a young client who suffered serious neurological spinal damage and has been left wheelchair bound after an operation to remove a spinal tumour. Liability has been admitted and our client has received interim damages in the sum of £640,000 to fund new accommodation. It is anticipated that the claim will settle in excess of £5 million.
Our client suffered continuous back pain over a 5 year period and was referred for physiotherapy. The physiotherapist made an incorrect diagnosis of mechanical back pain. Our client was referred back to the care of her GP but continued to complain of severe back pain. Liability has been admitted by the physiotherapist and GP for failing to notice that our client was under 20 years of age and had persistent low back pain. She should have been urgently referred to a spinal specialist for investigation. Had this been done the tumour would have been diagnosed at an earlier stage and removed and treated without nerve damage.
Spinal nerve damage during an operation
Hay & Kilner recently settled a claim for £250,000 for a client who suffered irreversible spinal nerve damage during an operation. It was alleged that during surgery the surgeon damaged our client’s spinal nerve roots by entering the interspinal space with an instrument. Our client was left with permanent disabling symptoms.
For further information, please contact Clare Thompson on 0192 232 8345 or email clare.thompson@hay-kilner.co.uk
Hay & Kilner has an ‘excellent grasp of clinical negligence law and an excellent manner with clients’, and recently settled several high-value claims including a sub-standard knee surgery case and a meningitis case. It also secured a £70,000 award in a dental claim. Clients rate Clare Thompson, Helen Morland and the ‘hugely experienced’ David Bradshaw. The firm has a multi-party action franchise.
Legal 500
Hay & Kilner's ‘efficient, knowledgeable and conscientious' clinical negligence practice settled a substantial number of cerebral palsy claims with a combined value of £20m over the course of 2009, and was retained on the Spinal Injury Panel. ‘Experienced' partner David Bradshaw and the ‘methodical, bright' Clare Thompson are both recommended.
Legal 500
