Aged 23, this claimant (“C”) was in good health when she became pregnant. However, she became severely unwell with morning sickness. Her GP referred her to hospital for admission, but she was quickly discharged.
£535,000 for a 23-year-old Young Woman Who Suffered Permanent Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions After Failure in Diagnosis of a Thiamine Deficiency During Pregnancy
She had four further admissions over a two-and-a-half-month period. By the fifth admission, she had developed leg weakness and was in a wheelchair, as well as having lost a huge amount of weight. Her condition continued to decline, she developed urinary incontinence, as well as problems with her eyesight. Ultimately, her pregnancy had to be terminated to save her life.
Two months later, after investigations at the Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London a thiamine deficiency (as a result of the very severe morning sickness i.e. hyperemisis graidarum) was diagnosed. The claimant gradually improved. She had to have surgery to lengthen tendons in her legs that had been badly affected.
Sadly, she was left unable to walk very far and was reliant on walking aids. She had continuous leg and back pains and had gained a lot of weight. She needed help with her own care and could not do any significant domestic tasks. Her mental health suffered and her psychiatric condition was permanent. She suffered from memory loss, inability to concentrate, frustration and depression.
General Damages (the part of the award to reflect the actual pain and suffering was estimated to be £100,000 of the £535,000 award. Past and future care: £120,000; Loss of earnings: £240,000. The rest of the compensation was for adapting accommodation, travel, extra household expenditure and interest. A sum of £35,000 in benefits that had been paid as a result of the injuries was repaid to the benefits agency (CRU).