Charlotte has recently successfully settled an Above Knee Amputation case at a settlement meeting.
The Claimant complained to his GP of symptoms of discolouration in his big toe in 2012 and was referred to the vascular surgery team. On examination it was concluded that a small clot had been ‘thrown off somewhere’ in his system. No further investigations were undertaken.
The Claimant complained of leg symptoms to his GP in 2017 and was again referred to the vascular surgery team, where he was diagnosed with bilateral popliteal artery aneurysms. The plan was for surgical treatment, but before that could happen the Claimant presented at hospital with an ischaemic lower leg and underwent an above knee amputation, as well as bypass surgery to his other leg.
Liability was initially denied by the Defendant in its Letter of Response, but within the Defence a full admission of liability was made. It was accepted that further investigations should have been undertaken in 2012, following which the aneurysms would have been diagnosed and treated, meaning that the Claimant would not have undergone above knee amputation. Expert evidence was exchanged in disciplines including prosthetics, rehabilitation, accommodation, care, physiotherapy, life expectancy and psychiatry, and a settlement meeting was arranged.
At the meeting, the parties were able to reach agreement in the sum of £1,150,000, which hopefully should enable the Claimant to return to as normal a life as possible, and provide for him in his later years.
Thank you to Elise Burvill from Irwin Mitchell Bristol for the instructions.
