Annie | Clinical negligence payout

Annie’s husband was awarded £45,000 after her death was shown to have been the result of clinical negligence.

Annie had a history of hypertension and high blood pressure. She was 5ft and weighed 12 stones. But until September 2001 she had not experienced chest pains before.

By October her chest pains, which grew worse when drinking were still bothering her so she went to see her GP, who diagnosed musculo-skeletal chest pain and prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. The GP suspected a trapped nerve was the cause of her discomfort.

Annie returned to the GP in late November, and twice in December as the pains had not eased. The doctor examined her and noticed that her chest wall was tender. She was advised to continue with her current medication and also prescribed other medicine to be taken alongside them.

By 24 December Annie was in great discomfort, having suffered for so long but obtaining little result from the prescriptions given to her. Finally on Christmas Day 2001, Annie collapsed at home and was found struggling for breath. Her daughter gave her CPR until the ambulance arrived. Annie was taken to hospital but died early on 26 December 2001.

Annie’s cause of death was an acute left ventricular failure due to coronary artery atheroma.

Annie’s husband approached lawyers as he alleged negligent treatment had been given to his wife. Annie’s GPs should have made the link between her symptoms and family history of cardiac trouble and noted that she was at an increased risk of complications, such as stroke and coronary artery disease.

If Annie had been referred to a Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic at any time she would have undergone an exercise test which would have been positive for myocardial ischaemia on exercise. Following this result she would have been prescribed anti-anginal medication and referred for further investigation. With this treatment it would have been likely that Annie’s fatal cardiac event would not have happened.

A sum of £45,000 was awarded in 2005 as a full and final settlement of the claim plus reasonable costs and disbursements.