THE TYPE OF CASE WE DO

Aged 69 years Mr M had a history of bladder cancer.

He presented with pain in his hip. He did not have a fracture and was discharged with follow up bone scan planned to see if he was suffering from recurrence of cancer. Mr M's cancer was found to have spread.

He was readmitted to hospital with severe sepsis in his hip, he underwent debridement of abscess and required treatment in ITU, he suffered from kidney failure and died a month later of a combination of kidney failure and recurrence of cancer.

Mr M's case was that the hospital had failed to recognise that his initial hip pain may have been due to sepsis given his history of bladder cancer.

Had the consultant considered sepsis he would have been diagnosed and treated and he would have survived.

The hospital disputed liability and the case was settled in the sum of £35,000.

If the case had succeeded at trial it was estimated the Court would have awarded in the region of £50,000.