Negligent reporting of smear test leaves young woman infertile
The injury
As a result of the incorrect reporting of her smear test results our client, Ms L developed cervical cancer resulting in her requiring a radical hysterectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Fortunately, Ms L’s treatment was successful, and her cancer was cured.
But the cancer left her infertile and she had wanted a third child from her treatment She experienced an early menopause and needed HRT .The chemoradiation treatment left her with some gastrointestinal problems including urgency with bowel movements and frequent diarrhoea. She experienced shooting pain when urinating; pain in her groin and some numbness in the top of her legs. She also experienced some psychological symptoms as a result of the trauma of the diagnosis and implications of this.
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We can help you investigate your case and help recover compensation for your physical and psychological injury together with the cost of future treatment, rehabilitation, loss of earnings (if unable to work as a result of the injury), vital aids and equipment and for any care or support that is required as long as it can be attributed to the negligence.
What happened to our client?
In November, Ms L attended her first routine smear test and was advised that the result was normal.
3 years later, Ms L attended her second routine smear test and was advised that the result was normal.
The following year (4 years after the original smear), Ms L noticed
- post-coital bleeding
- continuous vaginal bleeding.
Ms L attended appointments at her GP surgery on 3 occasions with this complaint over a period of 8 months.
Ms L’s previous smear test results were reviewed, and she was informed that the bleeding was most likely a combination of her contraceptive pill and having had children.
Ms L was referred by her GP via the two-week wait referral service to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust where she underwent a cervical biopsy and was diagnosed with a squamous cell Cervical cancer.
Ms L underwent a
- radical hysterectomy
- removal of the fallopian tubes
- removal of lymph nodes.
- chemotherapy and radiotherapy
At a meeting to review her previous smear test results Ms L was informed that both her smear test results (taken 3 years apart) had been misread. Both should have been reported as abnormal.
Concerned about a delay in diagnosis of cancer
While no amount of compensation will ever be enough for your or a family member’s suffering or loss, if you or a loved one has been affected by healthcare negligence, we can help you through the legal process for investigating your concerns against a healthcare professional and your negligence claim if there is one.
We will do this by providing legal representation on a no-win-no-fee basis to investigate what happened, help you get some answers, help you secure compensation, help seek justice for you and help to secure your or your loved one’s future.
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The Outcome Of The Case
Negligence was admitted and the case was settled for a six-figure sum paid to Ms L.
Disclaimer
Whilst our case studies are designed to give an indication of the outcomes that can be achieved in these circumstances, the compensation awarded in individual cases can vary significantly due to a range of factors, including the severity of injury, effects on life expectancy and financial impact, for example. For more information, contact us today.
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