Surgery error leaves woman with PTSD
Deborah Nadel's client Sarah suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after surgeons at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust mistakenly removed the wrong side of her thyroid gland.
Sarah, who is in her thirties, was put under general anaesthetic to have the right lobe of her thyroid gland taken out as it posed a modest cancer risk. Instead, the surgeon removed the left lobe despite the correct part being marked and prepared for surgery.
When she woke up Sarah was shocked and angry to learn of this mistake. She was advised to have a total thyroidectomy but refused as she was so distressed by what had happened. She paid privately for a second opinion from a thyroid specialist and the nodule on her right lobe has been monitored by scans on a regular basis ever since. If there is any change to the size and shape of the nodule, she will then have to undergo surgery to remove the gland.
Since the surgery Sarah has struggled significantly with her mental health. She lives in fear of having a cancerous lobe but has also been too frightened to return to hospital to have it removed as she has lost faith in doctors. If the lobe were to be removed, she would be left with no thyroid and dependant on replacement medication for life.
Sarah has had difficulty sleeping and been overwhelmed by flashbacks and is constantly reliving the events in her mind. She finds looking at her neck scar very distressing and has developed intrusive anxiety.
Following her ordeal Sarah instructed Deborah in a medical negligence claim and the Trust admitted breach of duty for what was termed a 'never' event. An expert psychiatrist who provided evidence in the claim found Sarah to be suffering from PTSD because of the negligence.
After negotiations Deborah settled the claim, securing damages for Sarah, which will help with the psychological therapy she needs to deal with the trauma of the surgical mistake that affects her life daily.
Sarah said after the settlement: "Thank you for everything you have done over the last few years - for the support and for helping me through such an emotional journey. Thank you for allowing me to be able to finally start to close the chapter."
Contact us
For further information about surgery negligence claims or medical negligence claims, please call Deborah Nadel on 03304606750 or email deborah.nadel@fieldfisher.com.
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