Medical negligence news -
08/07/2009

Surgeon's apology, seven years on

The Harborough Mail has reported on a development in an ongoing medical negligence saga, as the surgeon involved has issued his first apology to the family, seven years after the incident in the patient's claim.

The ENT specialist accepted responsibility for the personal injury suffered by his 61-year-old patient, which had been inflicted during an operation to remove polyps from the man's nose. A bleed suffered during the operation left the man with eyesight, concentration and memory problems.

The clinical negligence claim brought as a result of this incident was settled in 2005; the apology was issued in the process of a misconduct hearing, on 11 charges, before the General Medical Council. If found guilty, the doctor may face the loss of his licence.

The patient's medical negligence award, received from a private healthcare provider, was £1.3 million.