The courts are often called upon to sanction treatment for patients whose ability to make...
A teenage girl who has been left facing a lifetime of acute disability because of a delay in diagnosing a life-threatening brain tumour has achieved a £7.5 million settlement of her claim against an NHS trust.
The girl's parents had been reassured by hospital staff that all was well, despite the tumour having been visible on an MRI scan. A further nine months passed before the tumour, by that time larger and malignant, was spotted. The cancer was thereafter treated effectively; however, the girl suffered damage to her brain. Aged 11 at the time, she was left with significant physical and cognitive disabilities.
Lawyers on her behalf sued the trust, which accepted liability. The trust's lawyers issued a public apology and paid tribute to the devoted care given to her by her parents. The settlement consisted of a £2.4 million lump sum, plus index-linked and tax-free annual payments to cover the costs of the girl's care for life.