Katie Dean recently successfully settled a complex claim arising from negligent abdominal surgery.
Our client had a history of bowel problems and had undergone several operations, including an ileostomy (stoma). Despite this, he was able to manage ongoing pain with medication and return to work.
Our client was supposed to undergo planned stoma reversal, reconnection of the bowel and abdominal wall reconstruction. However, the surgeon performed the wrong procedure and failed to properly reconnect the bowel to the colon, creating a dead end in the intestine and making a blockage inevitable. Our client became seriously ill and required an emergency laparotomy to restore bowel continuity. Although the bowel was subsequently reconnected, no proper abdominal wall reconstruction or effective closure could be performed due to bowel obstruction and swelling. He was admitted to intensive care in a critical condition.
As a direct result of the negligence, our client suffers with an unhealed and chronic midline laparotomy wound which regularly bleeds, a very large midline hernia, chronic post-surgical abdominal pain and depression. His condition has worsened over time and there is no prospect of significant improvement. He has been unable to return to work, having previously run his own successful business.
The Defendant initially made significant admissions in their Letter of Response but argued in their Defence, following the issue of Court Proceedings, that some of our client’s complications would have occurred regardless of the negligence. However, following a continued robust position from our team, the Defendant then later served an amended Defence which admitted that absent the negligence our client would have undergone a successful abdominal wall reconstruction and would have avoided his post-operative incisional hernia and recurrent abdominal bleeding.
Following significant investigations and evidence from multiple experts including in the fields of colorectal surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation and forensic accountancy, the claim ultimately settled at a round table meeting for £1,250,000.
Client comment to Katie Dean: ‘Your clients are fortunate to have someone who is human, real, professional and ‘on the ball’.
about katie
Katie is an Associate who works on high value complex medical negligence matters. Many of Katie’s matters deal with claims involving delayed diagnosis. Katie’s recent cases have included delays in diagnosing Cauda Equina Syndrome and a spinal abscess leading to spinal injury, as well as delays in diagnosing retinal detachment leading to vision loss. Katie also has experience of running fatal claims as a result of a delayed diagnosis of cancer and acts for claimants who have suffered a catastrophic birth injury as a result of medical negligence.
