Six-figure Sum for Necrotising Fasciitis Following Failure to Examine
If Martin had undergone a medical examination, he would have been transferred to hospital and avoided developing necrotising fasciitis at the site of his abscess. Unfortunately, no such examination was carried out.
When Martin started to develop a runny nose and sore throat, he thought he was getting a cold or 'flu and took time off work to recover. Over the next few days, however, his symptoms worsened as he started to lose his appetite and fluctuated between feeling hot and cold.
Martin then became aware of a painful lump about the size of half his thumb on his right buttock. He continued to rest but found it difficult to find a position in which he was comfortable.
The following day he awoke to find that his right buttock was swollen and extremely painful and his flu-like symptoms had deteriorated and he was having to struggle just to get to the bathroom.
Martin's wife rang the GP surgery to request a home visit as Martin felt that it would be impossible for him to get to the surgery. Unfortunately, she was told that a home visit would not be possible. Martin explained why he felt unable to travel but was told that if he went to the surgery, it might be possible for him to see a doctor.
Martin's wife felt that he was not receiving the care he needed so rang the surgery again and demanded to speak to a doctor. She was eventually passed to a GP and described Martin's symptoms.
Again, she was told that no home visit would be possible but the doctor said that he would prescribe antibiotics on the basis of Martin's symptoms without seeing him. He further explained that the antibiotics might take a couple of days to start working.
When Martin approached Glynns to initiate a compensation claim on his behalf, we instructed a medical expert for their opinion of his care. Our expert was clear that the failure of the doctor to carry out a face-to face examination of Martin at this time meant that his abscess did not receive the care it needed and allowed Martin to develop the horrific infection that is necrotising fasciitis.
By commenting that antibiotics take time to work, the doctor had also caused a delay in Martin seeking further medical help.
When Martin's condition deteriorated the following day, his wife did not call an ambulance as she believed he had an infection from which he would recover when the antibiotics started to work. By this time Martin was vomiting and lethargic.
The following day, the swelling had spread to Martin's perineum and was turning purple. His wife contacted the surgery again and a doctor finally came to assess Martin's condition face-to-face.
He recognised the severity of Martin's symptoms and arranged for him to be transferred to hospital immediately. On examination, it was realised that Martin was now suffering from necrotising fasciitis, a life-threatening infection causing destruction of his body's tissue. Martin was put on intravenous antibiotics and underwent surgery later that day to remove the damaged tissue.
Because of the location of the infection, it was advised that Martin would also need a temporary colostomy to provide bowel function. This procedure was carried out the following day and Martin was transferred to a high dependency unit.
Martin has suffered considerable pain, disability and distress as a result of his poor care. Due to further complications, his colostomy was not reversed for over a year and he struggled to return to work. He suffers from lethargy, muscle weakness and chronic pain where he had received skin grafts after his surgical debridement.
Had Martin received adequate care the first time he approached his GP for help, it is probable that none of this would have happened. If a doctor had visited him at home and undertaken an examination, it is likely that Martin would have been sent straight to hospital and had his abscess drained before necrotising fasciitis could set in.
He would not have needed the fitting of a colostomy and his time in hospital would have been both shorter and less traumatic.
The failure to visit Martin for a face-to-face examination was acknowledged to be a breach of duty and Martin was awarded in excess of £100,000 in compensation for his subsequent pain, suffering and financial losses.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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