Clinical negligence solicitors in Portsmouth

Medical negligence - Leading to lifetime care

We were instructed by the parents of a girl who was born with brain damage, leading to cerebral palsy. Her parents believed this was entirely preventable and wanted to understand how it happened. Our investigation proved this to be correct.

It was discovered that the medical staff had been negligent on a number of occasions, including administering excessive amounts of a labour‐inducing stimulant. Additionally,  a CTG trace taken of the baby’s heart rate during the later stages of labour had shown a slow heart rate ‐ yet the midwife did not seek the additional medical assistance necessary. Furthermore, medical notes taken at the time detailed that the baby’s shoulder was obstructing the labour ‐ this also should have prompted additional medical assistance being sought and an earlier labour, but it did not.

Medical experts confirmed that  if she had been born just a few minutes earlier then the baby would have made a full recovery with no lasting injuries, and had the medical staff at the time acted appropriately then she would have been born 21 minutes earlier.

As a result of this negligence, the child will require care for the rest of her life. We secured a significant seven figure sum, which will help to support her and her family with the care and therapy she needs.

Failure to obtain consent - Leading to additional scarring

We represented a gentleman who was born with Poland Syndrome – meaning he was missing a major muscle and had soft tissue damage on the left side of his chest. Our client decided to proceed with surgery to correct this defect. He consented to liposuction being performed on either the right side of his chest or his abdomen, followed by lipofilling on the left side of his chest – which would leave minimal scarring.

However, our client woke up after the surgery to find out a completely different operation had been performed. The medical staff had inexplicably (and completely without his consent) carried out a dermal fat graft which left him with a seven inch scar on his groin. Our team secured a five figure settlement for the gentleman for the completely avoidable injury.

Missed diagnosis and referral

We acted on behalf of the estate of a 68 year old diabetic man who had stubbed his toe. The toe had turned black following the minor accident and his GP referred him to hospital, where medical staff noted that there was a lack of pulse in his feet but failed to address this.

He didn’t receive any treatment until more than a month later, when the condition had significantly worsened and part of his foot had to be amputated. It is well known by medical professionals that diabetes can lead to problems with the lower limbs and diabetes is the most common cause of lower limb amputation in the UK.

Just a few weeks later, he had to return to hospital to undergo surgery to have a below the knee amputation. However, his condition sadly continued to deteriorate and he died approximately two months after his initial A&E visit. The NHS Trust involved admitted liability and we successfully obtained a settlement for his family.

Careless procedure - causing kidney damage

Our clinical negligence team secured a six-figure sum for our client after disastrous keyhole surgery affected every aspect of his life.

Our client was left permanently scarred and forced to use a catheter after his bladder was cut during the operation. Three months after the operation, he was still in severe pain and consequently taken into hospital with a water infection – where it was discovered swabs had been left inside of his body, leading to another operation to remove them. As a result of this negligence, our client had to give up working and relies on care from others for everyday tasks