We recover compensation for victim of joint replacement negligence
Our client went to her local hospital to have a joint replacement in her little finger. However, when her cast was removed, she found that that her finger was not in the correct position.
Following rehabilitation the doctors told that she had two options:
- Amputate the finger; or
- Fuse the joint.
Neither of these options was attractive to her and she was therefore left with a permanent and painful disability.
She contacted us for legal guidance and we agreed to bring a joint replacement negligence claim on a no win, no fee basis.
We arranged for a report to be prepared by an independent medical expert who specialises in hand surgery. The consultant’s report was supportive of a joint replacement negligence claim, concluding that the hospital had made several errors. He was critical of the standard of the surgery itself and the post operative rehabilitation treatment. He also felt that the hospital had failed to inform our client of the risks of the procedure prior to the surgery. Had she been made aware of these risks then she would not have gone ahead with the surgery.
The joint replacement negligence claim was defended by the hospital. It was therefore necessary for us to formally commence court proceedings. Once court action had been initiated the hospital’s lawyers indicated a willingness to resolve the claim. Out of court settlement negotiations therefore took place resulting in an agreement being reached and compensation being paid to our client along with her legal costs.
