Cervical Cancer Claim - 4 Year Delay

CERVICAL CANCER; DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS; POOR SURVIVAL PROSPECTS

B V BALL (1999)

£65,000 settlement

B was diagnosed with cervical cancer aged 35 years.

Aged 31 years she was advised by her GP that it was not necessary for her to have a cervical smear as she had not been sexually active since she was 15 years old.

Aged 39 years she was estimated to have a 30 - 40% chance of survival beyond age 44.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was B's case that she should have undergone cervical smear when aged 31 years.

CAUSATION

It was B's case that at age 31 she would have been identified as suffering from treatable cervical cancer, the development of the disease halted and her life expectancy improved.

OUTCOME

Liability was disputed and the case settled for £65,000.