In excess of £100,000 compensation for Ruptured Appendix
When he attended A&E, Rick was told he had a urinary tract infection and sent home. Three days later he was in a critical condition with a ruptured appendix.
One Friday morning, Rick began to notice pains in the lower right-hand side of his stomach. This got progressively worse throughout the day, and he began vomiting in the evening.
The following day, he was in agony. He was bent double and could hardly walk, so his wife dialled 999. After a lengthy assessment over the phone, an ambulance was sent to collect him.
Rick was taken to hospital where he waited a long time to be seen, without being given any painkillers. Eventually he was seen by a doctor who gently pressed upon his abdomen. She did not check his temperature, blood pressure or pulse.
He provided a urine sample, and just five minutes later the doctor returned to say he had a water infection and would need a course of antibiotics. Rick expressed concerns that he had appendicitis, but was told he would feel better in a few days.
Once at home, he continued to deteriorate. The pain got worse, he could not open his bowels, and his vomit took on a black, tar-like substance. Rick had been told it could be a few days before he improved, but by Tuesday he was much worse.
He made an appointment to see a GP, who pressed firmly on Rick's abdomen. The pain was excruciating and the GP immediately diagnosed appendicitis. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, where he was placed on a drip and x-rayed.
Rick was told he would have his appendix removed the following day. The operation should have been 20 minutes, but it took over three hours because his appendix had burst and his bowel was obstructed. He also vomited while under anaesthetic, causing vomit to go into his lungs.
Rick fell critically ill and he remained on life support for four days. His recovery was further complicated by aspirational pneumonia, which was the result of vomit entering his lungs. He was finally discharged one week after undergoing surgery.
For three months Rick was unable to work. Even now, he is very breathless and cannot do any heavy lifting. This has severely restricted his ability to maintain his own business and his monthly income has dropped significantly as a result.
Rick's appendicitis should have been diagnosed and treated on his first attendance. This would have prevented him from falling critically unwell. He would also have avoided all the additional complications he experienced, including: wound infection causing extensive scarring, debilitating breathlessness, incisional hernias, and devastating financial losses.
We helped Rick pursue a claim against the hospital at fault. He was awarded over £100,000 compensation.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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