Medical negligence news
06/02/2008
Woman who "faked seizures" makes compensation bid

A young woman who is now paraplegic after suffering a traumatic fall while experiencing a seizure is suing an NHS trust for £300,000 in medical negligence compensation.

A writ issued by her personal injury solicitor at the High Court alleges that if, after the accident, "the claimant had been competently treated she would on the balance of probabilities have made a complete neurological recovery."

The woman, now 34, says she has been experiencing seizures since she was 2 years old, however, the paramedics who treated her at the scene of her fall allege that she had "a history of faking seizures".

The claimant's allegations of medical negligence include claims that when the paramedics arrived to treat her after he fall, they failed to take even the most basic spinal injury precautions and repeatedly tried to make her stand unsupported. Her mother is quoted as saying, "She kept telling the medics that she had no movement in her lower limbs but feels like she was ignored at every stage and treated as though it was all in her mind."

After taking the medical negligence claim writ to the High Court, the woman's personal injury solicitor commented that she was "very pleased" to be representing her client and would be helping her "in her fight for compensation to ensure that her future care, equipment, therapy and housing needs are met."