Catalogue of dental errors
Megan is aged 9 years old. Her parents contacted Sharon Williams of Irwin Mitchell after she had attended Stepping Hill Hospital to have 2 right teeth extracted. However following the surgery it transpired that the dental surgeon had in fact removed 3 left teeth in error.
Medical records were obtained and expert medical opinion was sought from a dental expert. Following advice from the dental expert, it transpired that there had been a catalogue of errors.
Leading up to her planned surgery, Megan underwent x-rays which our expert adviser had indicated that the UR6, LR6, UL6 and LL6 in fact needed to be extracted. The radiologist had failed to detect the UL6 and LL6 needed to be extracted and advised Megan’s parents of the need to extract UR6 and LR6 only.
Megan attended Stepping Hill Hospital for the planned extraction, unfortunately the consent form had be drafted to state that UL6 and LL6 were for extraction. Consequently during the procedure the 2 teeth on Megan’s UL6 were and LL6 were removed. The dental surgeon, failed to note during the surgery that the 2 teeth on the right side (UR6 and LR6) were also decayed and also needed to be removed.
Approximately 1 week following the surgery, Megan began to complain of toothache on the right side. Megan’s mother initially thought that this was post-operative pain as she had understood that the teeth on the right side were removed. The pain continued for 1 week and so Megan returned to her dentist who immediately identified that the dental surgeon as Stepping Hill Hospital had removed teeth on the left and not the right.
Megan’s parents immediately contacted Stepping Hill Hospital and a further appointment was offered to remove the remaining teeth however as this appointment was with the same surgeon who had previously operated on Megan, Megan’s parents requested that her care be transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital.
Megan then underwent extraction of the decayed teeth on the right side.
Consequently a letter of claim was dispatched by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors to Stockport NHS Foundation Trust alleging that the radiologist had failed to advise Megan’s mother of the need to remove 4 teeth, that the consent form was negligently drafted and that the dental surgeon failed to remove all 4 decayed teeth which caused Megan to suffer an unnecessary general anaesthetic for the teeth on the right side to the removed.
The NHS Litigation Authority subsequently made an offer to settle Megan’s claim in the sum of £3,750 which was duly accepted by Megan’s mother.
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