Case report: Delayed diagnosis case settled

Settlement: £37,500.

Failure to Treat Signs and Symptoms of Appendicitis

Throughout the latter part of 2008 F attended hospital on a number of dates complaining of abdominal pain. Investigations were delayed. She attended accident and emergency at the CMUH hospital in early January 2009, with abdominal pain and vomiting. A diagnosis of gastroenteritis was made. She was discharged. She immediately attended A&E department of the LTH hospital where she was immediately admitted. However there was still a delay in diagnosing appendicitis. She was ultimately operated upon some three days later. By that time the appendix had perforated. She had developed local peritonitis. She underwent substantial abdominal operation leaving an open wound which became infected. F suffered psychologically as a result of such remaining scarring and requires CBT therapy and potential plastic surgery.

Pre-action protocol Letters of Claim were submitted and eventually a Reasoned Response was received accepting liability and making an offer. The case settled for over twice as much as the initial offer made.