Husband wife being told about husband's brain tumour

Failure to spot a brain tumour led to years of distress for husband and wife

Mark first came to medical negligence expert Ally Taft, partner at Medical Accident Group, in 2014. He was concerned that it had taken over a year for his GP to refer him for a CT scan. The CT scan showed evidence of a tumour that needed urgent stereotactic radiotherapy.

During the course of investigations, it was discovered that the tumour had been evident in a CT scan taken in 2008, six years previously.

If the tumour had been spotted after the scan in 2008, it could have been monitored and interventions made sooner.

As it was, despite treatment, he suffered from years of ill-health. His symptoms included difficulties walking and swallowing, vertigo, anxiety, agitation and confusion. His wife Diana cared for him at home throughout. She needed to register with a carers support group to cope with the stress of this.

Sadly, his treatment was ultimately unsuccessful. He passed away in 2018.

The case

His widow wanted to continue Mark’s claim on his behalf after his death to understand what had happened and why. Ally pursued a claim against Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust for negligence.

To support her claim, she requested expert insight from a neuroradiologist and a consultant neurosurgeon. They agreed that if Mark’s tumour had been spotted in 2008, it could have been regularly monitored to allow early action to be taken if needed.

Ally also sought input from a care expert about Mark’s care needs and the equipment he required up to his death. This highlighted the distress caused to him and his wife during his lengthy period of ill-health.

With Ally’s help, his wife was awarded damages of £125,000 in an out-of-court settlement. She said: “Ally made me feel comfortable with everything as I had to take over the case from my late husband.”

Following the positive outcome, Ally said: “The failure to diagnose the tumour in 2008 caused a great deal of stress and distress over many years for both of them. I am pleased we were able to secure some recognition of the failures and financial security for his wife with the award of damages.”

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one because of medical negligence, we can help you with your claim – call us on 0800 050 1668 or fill in the form below.

Husband wife being told about husband's brain tumour Husband wife being told about husband's brain tumour

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Meet the Team

Ally Taft, Head of Clinical Negligence

Starting out as a physiotherapist, Ally embarked on her legal training knowing that she wanted to specialise in clinical negligence from the outset. Now a partner for Medical Accident Group, her experience and medical understanding have stood her and her clients in good stead, combined, as they are, with her determination to seek justice for clients whose lives have been devastated by clinical negligence.

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