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Multi-Million-Pound Settlement for Preventable Cardiac Arrest

A substantial compensation settlement has been negotiated for a woman who suffered a cardiac arrest after a failure to diagnose a genetic heart condition.

Despite receiving a concerning ECG report, her GP did not refer her for a cardiology assessment. Shortly after her third child was born, she suffered a cardiac arrest and was left with a catastrophic brain injury. She is now in a minimally conscious state and requires round-the-clock care.

A claim was brought on her behalf against her GP, who admitted breach of duty but disputed that this had caused her injury. However, evidence from a cardiologist was obtained that, had she been referred to a cardiology department, it was more likely than not that her condition would have been diagnosed and beta-blockers prescribed, preventing her cardiac arrest.

An interim payment of £2.2 million was secured, allowing a suitably adapted home to be purchased for her and her family. Further medical evidence was obtained to establish her care needs and a final settlement was reached, consisting of a lump sum of £7 million and lifetime annual payments of £414,000.

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While nothing can truly compensate those who are severely injured as a result of medical negligence, a settlement can help to provide the injured person with the care and support they need, and ensure their family and dependants are supported financially. If you or a member of your family has suffered injury or illness because of errors by medical staff, we can advise you on claiming compensation.
Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position.