Bill was born on Saturday 2 June 1990 at midnight at gestation
37 weeks. His mother was an insulin dependent diabetic and the
obstetric team had recognised that Bill was at risk of suffering
hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period.
At birth, Bill had a low blood glucose level which fell to zero
in the hours after birth. Notwithstanding this, Bill was not
admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit for correction of the blood
glucose level until about 10am the following morning.
Subsequently, Bill's mother contended that Bill suffered fits
(and subsequent brain damage) due to neonatal hypoglycaemia on day
one and day two.
Sadly, Bill went on to suffer very severe spastic quadric
cerebral palsy. We argued on Bill’s
behalf that the midwives and the paediatricians had been negligent
in failing to recognise the low blood sugar and in failing to admit
and treat Bill in the Neonatal Special Care Unit.
Although Bill’s physical injuries were consistent with a pattern
of damage caused by hypoglycaemia, an MRI scan performed some years
after birth, showed another potential cause of the damage, i.e.
PVL. There is medical controversy as to the cause of PVL and the
defendants strongly contested that such damage could not be caused
by hypoglycaemia.
The injuries to Bill are so severe and his needs are great, the
claim is potentially worth a very substantial amount of
compensation.
On 3 December 2007, the matter went to trial and lasted for 12
days.
A number of highly qualified neonatologists, paediatricians and
neuroradiologists gave crucial evidence to the Court.
Paul McNeil acted for Bill who was
funded by Legal Aid.
In giving judgment for the defendant His honour Judge Mitchell
stated that
“...if the causal link between hypoglycaemia
and PVL is proved a decade in the future then [Bill] may well have
suffered an injustice. However, as I have been at pains to
identify, there are a series of missing links in the causal chain
which have led me to the conclusions which I have reached…”
For further information or if you have a cerebral palsy claim please call Paul McNeil on
020 7861 4019 or email paul.mcneil@ffw.com
You can discuss your cerebral palsy
claim with any member of our medical
negligence team on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.