Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Medical Negligence Claims

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Clients We Have Represented

Clear Answers' expert medical negligence solicitors take on a variety of medical negligence compensation claims and surgical error compensation claims. Below is just one example of the types of medical negligence claims for which our personal injury solicitors have successfully obtained compensation for our clients.

Client receives compensation for suffering caused by a bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.
Our client asked us for medical negligence compensation claim advice after suffering prolonged illness following what should have been routine surgery. He had been diagnosed with gallstones, and despite non-surgical efforts, was eventually admitted to hospital to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery to correct his condition. He was advised that there was a risk of bile injury during this particular surgical procedure and signed the usual waiver.

During the operation, he suffered a bile duct injury and immediately felt unwell following the surgery. Although doctors suspected this was the case, he was transferred to two different hospitals, had two drains inserted to remove substantial quantities of bile stained fluid, but was eventually scheduled for biliary reconstructive surgery. Initially this was scheduled for two months after the laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery had taken place, but it was in fact not carried out until over 4 months after the injury had been inflicted.

During this time, our client suffered considerable pain and discomfort. He had to have his dressings changed several times a week, and his colostomy bag changed three times a day. Whilst waiting for this additional surgery, and for several months later whilst he recovered his strength, his wife was forced to leave her job to care for him.

Following a letter of complaint by our client, he received an apology from the surgeon regarding the complications that had occurred during the laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery, though he was reminded that he had signed the waiver regarding potential risks. However, our client’s main concern was the poor standard of care he had received, and hospital negligence he had endured, immediately following the laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. He had clearly been in pain, unable to pass urine, constantly feeling ill and vomiting, yet it took several months before corrective surgery was carried out.

During the period of his recovery, our client’s weight seesawed drastically, as he was first bloated with fluid, and then unable to eat, finally losing almost two stone within a week of the corrective surgery being carried out.

Our client’s job was a physical one but as a result of his medical negligence, he lost much of his strength and agility. It took some considerable time for him to regain sufficient strength to re-take compulsory fitness tests following this negligence, and he lived with the fear that if he was unable to successfully retake these tests, he would have been unable to continue in his chosen profession.

Although several offers of medical negligence compensation were received, these were considered by our expert personal injury solicitors, to be inadequate to compensate for the suffering of our client. It was therefore necessary for our specialist medical negligence lawyers to commence litigation proceedings. However, before trial, the defendants made a final offer of £50,000 to settle this medical negligence compensation claim, which was acceptable to our client.