Printed from the Field Fisher Waterhouse Personal Injury web site
Web address: http://personalinjury.ffw.com//news/2010/mar/doctor-failed-to-spot-septicae.aspx

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Doctor failed to spot septicaemia

An out-of-hours doctor told a woman in chronic pain with septicaemia that she was only having a reaction to painkillers and sent her home - but by 9pm the next day she was dead.

Staffordshire mother-of-two Josephine Brindley, 36, was apparently showing classic symptoms of the infection after she injured herself in 2005 as she tried to catch a box file which fell from a cabinet in work.

She saw locum Dr Karuna Desai at Cannock Chase Hospital's out-of-hours surgery and told of "agonising" pain in the joint. The doctor prescribed Mrs Brindley more painkillers and told her to go home to rest.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust did not accept any liability but nevertheless paid Mrs Brindley's widower Paul an out-of-court settlement of around £200,000.

A spokeswoman for the NHS trust said it was "pleased that the parties have been able to work together to reach a settlement".

A trust fund has now been established on behalf of Mr Brindley's children Jack, 10, and Holly, seven.

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