Delay in diagnosis of fractured elbow - compensation for 5 year old boy
Boyes Turner's medical negligence lawyers recovered £2.5k in compensation for a 5 year old boy following a delay in diagnosis of a fractured elbow.
He attended the defendant hospital on 22 August 2008 following a fall. After an assessment at A & E, x-rays were taken and his parents were reassured that he had only sustained a soft tissue injury and his arm was put into a sling.
He continued to suffer with pain and he was taken to his GP on 29 August 2008. The GP immediately referred him to a different hospital for repeat x-rays. The second hospital diagnosed a fractured elbow.
There was therefore a delay of 6 days until the fracture was diagnosed. He required an operation to re-fix the elbow under keyhole surgery and his arm was put into plaster. He has been told that he is unlikely to suffer any long term problems as a result of the delay in diagnosis.
His parents took advice from Boyes Turner’s medical negligence lawyers and a compensation claim was brought against the first hospital for the failure to diagnose the fracture, which was clearly visible on the x-rays taken. Expert evidence was obtained from a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist. Boyes Turner’s lawyers sent a letter of claim to the hospital at the same time as making a settlement offer of £2.5k. The hospital admitted liability and accepted the offer. There was no cost to our client in bringing the claim.
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