Medical negligence compensation news
04/06/2008

Parents receive some recognition of "worst nightmare"

The parents of a nine-month old boy who died after paramedics and a doctor separately failed to diagnose him with meningitis have been awarded medical negligence compensation in an out-of-court settlement.

The medical negligence compensation payout, undisclosed but reported to be a five-figure sum, came after West Midlands Ambulance Service admitted its treatment had "been below standard".

First a doctor, then paramedics, diagnosed the boy with a viral infection, even though his symptoms were getting worse.

The ambulance service expressed its regret, with a spokesperson commenting that if the boy had been taken to hospital, "then it is likely he would have survived."

The personal injury solicitor who represented the parents' misdiagnosis medical negligence compensation claim commented that they had been through "every parents worst nightmare".