25 March 2008
Our client, who is a successful businessman, consulted his GP after suffering from pain and pins and needles in his left calf following exercise. Our client was worried that these were serious signs. We alleged that the GP did not carry out a proper examination, in particular, the GP failed to feel for
pulses in the affected limb. The GP concluded that a trapped nerve accounted for the pain and our client was relieved to be reassured that there was no serious problem.
We argued that the symptoms should have indicated to the GP that there was a possible
ischaemic cause for the pain caused by a decrease in the blood supply to the leg. Our case was that the patient ought to referred to see a vascular surgeon as an emergency. Sadly, this did not happen and our client spent the next weeks suffering from worsening symptoms. He then went back to a different GP who ordered an emergency referral to hospital. At hospital, a blockage in an artery at about the level of the left knee was diagnosed.
Sadly, our client had to undergo an above-the-knee
amputation, we said, as a result of the delay in treatment. The original GP argued that the limb was compromised from the beginning, and that different treatment at an early stage would have made no difference to the final outcome.
The effect on our client was that he was unable to devote his full attention to his business, which suffered without his leadership. Leigh Day’s in-house forensic accountant was able to analyse the firm’s accounts to illustrate this loss. A prosthetics expert addressed the issue of the cost of appropriate prosthetic limbs suitable to our client’s desire to continue to play some sport. The case was then settled favourably at a meeting with the GP’s representatives.
For more information please contact
Henry Dyson on 020 765012 00.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.