Most people are aware that deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be very serious indeed, and can be fatal. It’s important that medical staff know how to spot the signs, particularly for those in high risk categories. We have a specialist team of medical negligence solicitors and legal executives who are continually fighting for the rights of victims of medical negligence incidents.
In this story from the BBC, a mother in Ireland is to be awarded £400,000 after her DVT was not spotted in time, resulting in life altering consequences.
The report confirms that the woman in question gave birth at the Ulster Hospital in June 2009. She presented symptoms of DVT at accident and emergency shortly thereafter where her concerns were dismissed as simply ‘hormonal’ issues. She had also claimed that she was not properly risk assessed as a woman over the age of 35 giving birth who should be in a high risk category.
Whilst the report doesn’t detail the extent and severity of the suffering and loss that was caused due to the failure to identify the symptoms early enough, it has been described that there has been an ongoing traumatic impact on her life. One must be seriously suffering to warrant a payout of £400,000 so the impact must clearly be significant.
The report confirms she has said: “It’s affected every aspect of my life, I just feel old before my time. I find walking for more than 10-15 minutes very hard to endure and stairs are incredibly difficult.” There were associated issues with the births of her following two children and she could have lost her leg had she have suffered a clot again.
Liability was admitted by South Eastern Health Trust and the case was heard at the Belfast High Court.
