THE TYPE OF CASE WE DO

£100,000 following damage to the common bile duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

H v Northern General Hospital NHS Trust (2002)

Aged 34 H underwent routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

H did not recover as expected, suffering from abdominal pain distension, and leakage of bile. H was discharged from hospital three days after her operation.

7 days after her operation H was readmitted to hospital and 4 days later at laparotomy damage to the common bile duct was confirmed.

H underwent reconstructive surgery. H had an estimated 1% risk of requiring liver transplant at some point in the future. It was thought that H would eventually be able to return to full time work.

BREACH OF DUTY

Responsibility for H's bile leak was accepted by the hospital.

OUTCOME 

Compensation was agreed at £100,000