The Type Of Case We Do

SURGERY; DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS APPENDICITIS; HYSTERECTOMY

£60,000 following failure to identify and treat appendicitis leading to pelvic infection and need for hysterectomy and removal of ovaries in 35 year old.

L V (1) WRIGHT (2) DAVIES (2007)

Aged 35 L developed sudden onset severe abdominal pain, tenderness, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Over 10 days she was seen by a number of GPs and diagnosed as suffering from gastroenteritis.

L's pains continued and she was referred for gynaecological investigation. L was diagnosed as suffering from endometriosis.

16 months after the onset of her symptoms L underwent hysterectomy and removal of ovaries for ongoing pelvic pain. At operation the surgeon found a fibrotic appendix stump. The surgeon concluded that L's pain had originated with acute appendicitis which had then become a chronic pelvic infection.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was C's case that she should have been referred by her GPs following onset of her abdominal pain and that investigation at that stage would have diagnosed appendicitis.

CAUSATION

It was C's case that referral by her GPs in the days following the onset of her abdominal pain would have resulted in a diagnosis of appendicitis and treatment that would have prevented her pelvic infection and avoided her need for hysterectomy.

OUTCOME

The claim was defended however settled without admission of liability at £60,000.