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Inappropriate Medication Results in Blindness
Mr M, a 49 year old man, attended the Defendant Hospital in August 1999, suffering from a slightly irregular heartbeat.
During the course of his admission, he was given a combination of drugs and medication to try and regulate his heartbeat. He appeared to be well, but after several days, he suddenly suffered a fit and had a cardiac arrest.
The Defendant Hospital resuscitated Mr M and stabilised his condition, but when he regained consciousness he was almost completely blind. It was diagnosed that his severe visual impairment was due to damage to his optic nerve resulting from oxygen deprivation to the frontal lobes of his brain during the period that he fitted and suffered the cardiac arrest. It was also noted that Mr M had sustained some short term memory loss and he later developed some depression.
At the time of his injury, Mr M lived alone, working as a Security Guard. He was also involved in voluntary work in the community. He was a very active man who was involved in a number of different types of sport as well as playing in local bands and teaching children to play music.
As a result of his injury, he became very dependent on others, initially requiring assistance with almost all the activities of his daily life.
Wolferstans immediately recognised that Mr M had a potentially strong claim which should be pursued. Our investigations revealed that the combination and dosages of the medication given to Mr M for his irregular heartbeat had been inappropriate and had directly caused the fit and the cardiac arrest which he had suffered.
The Defendant Hospital initially denied any negligence on their part and as a result it was necessary to commence Court proceedings. Shortly afterwards, the Defendant Hospital admitted that they had been negligent in relation to the treatment which had been given to Mr M and that their actions were responsible for his injuries.
We undertook a comprehensive and detailed investigation of the extent of Mr M’s injuries and of his current and future needs so that his claim could be properly valued. After this investigation was completed, a Schedule of Damages was prepared and served.
An amicable settlement was eventually reached with the Solicitors instructed on behalf of the Hospital, on the basis of a payment of damages of £600,000 plus Mr M’s legal costs. This was a sum of money which allowed Mr M to pursue a career in music, including setting up his own recording studio. It also allowed him to purchase the care he needed to help him with all aspects of daily living.
Wolferstans were also able to provide advice and assistance to Mr M regarding the creation of a Personal Injury Trust into which his compensation payment was paid, which enabled him to continue to receive the Means Tested State Benefits to which he was entitled.
Samantha Buckthought who conducted this claim on Mr M’s behalf says “This was a challenging case as Mr M was an intensely private man who did not wish his family and friends to know about the claim. At times it was difficult to communicate with Mr M because of his visual difficulties, and his difficulties in reading correspondence and documents. However, these difficulties were overcome and I am delighted that such an excellent result was achieved, which would allow Mr M the opportunity to start afresh after such tragic events”.