Doctor fails to detect pneumonia
Carl had been suffering with various symptoms including coughing up green sputum, headaches, weakness, double vision, pins and needles and he was unable to stand unsupported for a number of weeks and so went to visit his GP. Carl was prescribed antibiotics and codeine cough linctus by his GP and advised that the problem should clear up.
Carl continued to feel unwell, suffering severe pains in his side. Carl’s condition quickly deteriorated over the following 2 days and an ambulance was called to take him to A&E. When he arrived at the hospital Carl was placed into a side room and was given oxygen but had to wait 2 hours before he was seen by a doctor. The doctor who saw Carl diagnosed a chest infection and discharged him with another prescription of the same antibiotics as previously prescribed by Carl’s GP without a chest x-ray or any further examination.
Sadly, the following day Carl had a cardiac arrest and was rushed back into hospital. It was found that Carl was suffering from pneumonia and a CT scan showed that he had a subarachnoid haemorrhage on his brain. Shortly after Carl’s parents agreed that the machinery that was keeping him alive could be turned off and he died.
Expert evidence suggests that Carl would not have suffered the damage to his brain and his cardiac arrest had his pneumonia been detected by the doctor when he initially went to A&E.
Carl’s family pursued a claim against the local NHS Trust and, with the assistance of medical negligence solicitor Luke Daniels, were awarded £60,000 in compensation.
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