Lucy MacKinnon secures £175,000 settlement
July 2010
Lucy MacKinnon a member of Hailsham Chambers' Medical Law Group secures a £175,000 out of court settlement for patient following misdiagnosis
In this case the claimant, aged 46 at the time, returned to hospital five days after having been prescribed the antibiotic Linezolid for an infected wound. Suffering from severe anaemia and with worryingly low levels of haemoglobin, he was informed by doctors that he had Leukaemia and was told that he had 12 months left to live.
Later it was discovered that the claimant was not in fact suffering from Leukaemia. Instead, he had suffered nerve damage, believed to be as a result of prolonged use of Linezolid a treatment for MRSA, which he also did not have.
In a statement issued by the law firm Withy King, the Claimant's solicitor said: 'The claimant alleged negligence in prescribing Linezolid as he did not have MRSA, and for failing to monitor blood results weekly in accordance with national guidelines. The liability was not disputed.'
In his claim against the hospital, the claimant said he has been left with damage to nerves in his arms and legs as well as a nerve palsy in his left knee. Experts have said the damage may be permanent and he is likely to need more knee surgery which may even be an amputation above the knee.
Lucy was instructed by Withy King.
For further information about Lucy's practice contact Hailsham's clerking team (T: 020 7643 5000).
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