A compensation package worth £3.45 million has been awarded to a
woman who was brain damaged while undergoing hospital
treatment.
Grannia East, of Portsmouth, suffered complications after
surgery for gallstones in January 2001 and had a cardiac arrest
after aspirating her vomit.
The procedure took place at the Royal Hospital Haslar in
Gosport, Hampshire.
The Ministry of Defence, as the body responsible for the
hospital, denied liability and took the case to the Court of Appeal
on the key question of causation.
But in July 2008 it ruled in Mrs East's favour, and on this week
Mr Justice Ouseley approved a settlement on damages.
Mrs East, 44, who has problems with memory and concentration and
is wheelchair-bound, was at London's High Court with her husband
Shawn for the hearing.
The judge said that the case contained a strong element of
tragedy and also of "astounding care, love and kindness" on the
part of Mr East and the rest of the family.