A man whose wife died of multiple organ failure following negligent gallbladder surgery was awarded £275,000 in compensation.
His solicitor, Miriam Bi of Medical Solicitors, supported him to make a medical negligence claim against the defendant NHS Trust on behalf of his late wife’s estate.
Case summary
The claimant’s wife was 59 when she died in July 2017. Less than four weeks before her death, she had undergone keyhole surgery to remove her gallbladder.
Following the surgery, she had a bile leak but this went undetected, despite this being a recognised complication and her symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain.
She was discharged the day after surgery but readmitted to hospital four days later with worsening pain. A CT scan showed significant fluid in her abdomen. She also had symptoms of sepsis which suggested there was a bile leak. She was given IV antibiotics to clear the infection.
More CT scans over the course of a week showed increasing fluid. This was drained and found to be bile stained. She had an ERCP to repair the leak, but unfortunately developed acute pancreatitis. This only happens in less than five percent of ERCP procedures but was exacerbated by the woman’s pre-existing sepsis.
She suffered multiple organ failure and was transferred to critical care where she died on 16th July 2017.
An Inquest recorded her death as 1(a) multi-organ failure; 1(b) Acute pancreatitis; 1(c) Biliary peritonitis; II Recent cholecystectomy and ERCP.
The defendant Trust admitted liability and, following difficult negotiations, the case settled in November 2020 for £275,000. This included £25,000 general damages, £41,000 past losses and £209,000 future losses which included a dependency claim for the widower.
