Nathan was born in February 1978. He was diagnosed with
Alstrom Syndrome, which caused blindness, diabetes and excessive
weight gain.
In October 1991, Nathan was a pupil at the RNIB College in
Worcester. He attended a hospital appointment with a cardiologist
in November 1992, but no treatment or follow-up was given.
In November 1994, Nathan collapsed with a heart condition and
was admitted as an emergency to the Torbay Hospital. It was
established that he suffered from cardiomyopathy.
Nathan again collapsed with heart failure in July 1997
but despite intensive treatment including a heart transplant
at the Papworth Hospital, Nathan died on 11 May 2003.
Other solicitors were instructed to investigate and pursue a
claim for Nathan. Before he died, those solicitors
advised him that he would not be able to succeed with his
claim even though the defendant health authority had admitted
breach of duty.
In August 2001, the case was referred to Paul McNeil who investigated whether the
failure of the cardiologist to follow-up Nathan in
November 1992 resulted in a failure to prescribe ACE inhibitors
which might have prevented the cardiac failure.
We applied to adjourn the trial and in subsequent proceedings
were able to successfully argue that Nathan's heart condition had
been made worse by the failure of the hospital in 1992. Sadly, the
settlement came after Nathan's death and the case
was settled for £20,000 in June 2003.
For further information or if you have a cardiac negligence claim please call
Paul McNeil on
020 7861 4019 or email paul.mcneil@ffw.com
You can discuss your cardiac negligence claim with any member of
our medical negligence team on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.