J - high profile business woman was left little more than a vegetable after a simple throat operation went wrong. She was recently awarded £2.6million damages.
In March 1994, after being bothered by a persistent cough, she booked into a private Hospital for a 10 minute operation.
She should have been home again in the afternoon. But her brain was starved of oxygen and she "died" for 38 minutes before being brought round. Her husband said, that she was a highly intelligent, ambitious woman, one of the top people in her field.
He has spent a fortune, even selling his home to raise funds, to get the case to court and finally win compensation for his wife. Reports confirmed that she is 80 per cent brain dead. She cannot walk, or talk, or feed herself. She has to be fed through a tube every two hours, needing 24-hour a day care.
J is being looked after at private nursing home and her husband lives in a flat he has bought nearby. He said: "I have visited her almost every day for 11 years. I sit with her and sing her songs and talk to her. She does recognise me but whether it is as a husband or just a familiar face I just don't know. "She can't speak, not even yes or no, she can't read, she can't write and cannot eat or drink. She can't stand and certainly can't walk. She is little more than a vegetable".
It was only in March last year that the Doctor agreed to pay a part of the claim without admitting any liability. His Counsel told the court of his "regret that the tragedy occurred". In approving the agreed settlement, the Judge said it was a tragic case that brought out the best of human nature. He expressed his admiration for the care the claimant had given to his wife and wished them both the "very best of luck".
All allegations of negligence were denied by the Medical Protection Society.
Has something similar happened to you? If so, try making a claim >
