Sue Man was instructed by our client in a clinical negligence claim against his local hospital Trust. The claim was settled during a recent settlement meeting, for £2.225 million.
Our client should have been diagnosed with a genetic disorder as a teenager following a 24 hour urine test. The 24 hour test results showed abnormally high levels of oxalates which should have resulted in a diagnosis of Primary Hyperoxaluria type 1.
On receipt of the test results, the hospital’s consultant should have referred our client to the paediatric nephrologists for treatment, but instead took no action whatsoever.
The condition was therefore allowed to deteriorate for some 13 years until it was finally diagnosed when our client was 29 years of age. By that stage, the condition had caused extensive and irrecoverable damage to our client’s body, affecting mostly the kidneys, nervous and vascular system.
Our client underwent a combined liver kidney transplantation to treat the condition. Whilst the liver transplantation was successful, the transplanted kidney did not work. Due to damage to his vascular system, he also had to undergo amputation of both legs above the knees. He also lost use of his fingers and is only able to grip objects using the palm of his hands and wrists. He was informed he needs a second kidney transplant but because of the pandemic, this was put on hold.
Pending a second kidney transplant, our client developed problems with low blood pressure and narrowing of his vascular system. Despite undergoing dialysis approximately four times a week, his oxalate levels remain high. All of these factors are additional complications to kidney transplantation and he has been informed that the procedure may not go ahead.
This was a clear case of negligence which resulted in catastrophic injuries and has significantly reduced our client’s life expectancy.
At the time of settlement, the prospects of our client having the second kidney transplant were bleak. Our independent medical experts were of the opinion that without a second kidney transplant, our client’s life expectancy was likely to be no more than 3 years.
The claim was therefore settled on the basis of not only the terrible injuries suffered by our client but also to ensure that he has sufficient funds to purchase suitable housing, care, aids and equipment for the next three years, plus additional compensation to reflect the chance of our client beating the odds and having, and surviving, a second kidney transplantation.