Compensation For Cosmetic Surgery Injury - Niall Sheehan's Story

Niall Sheehan's received £9,700 in compensation after a nose operation left him with breathing difficulties and in need of further surgery. The surgeon who carried out the operation, Mr Guilio Gherardini, left the National Centre for Cosmetic Surgery in Birmingham, West Midlands, shortly after the operation on Mr Sheehan and returned to Italy. He refused to respond to correspondence or to provide details of his insurance.

Mr Gherardini has since consented to his name being removed from the General Medical Council's register following an investigation relating to his professional performance. There are also other complaints and legal cases against him.

Unable to obtain a valid copy of Mr Gherardini's insurance policy, and therefore to sue him directly we were, however, able to take action against the clinic, alleging that it had failed to carry out appropriate checks on the surgeon.

Kashmir Uppal, Mr Sheehan's solicitor, said: "If there's no insurance then there's little point in suing the surgeon, particularly as in this case, they are no longer in the UK. We were fortunate that we were able to begin action against the private hospital alleging breach of contract on the basis that they had failed to carry out sufficient checks. But what is shocking, is that they were allowing this surgeon to practise without being able to show that he was fit to. Fortunately the Centre settled the claim and paid compensation to Mr Sheehan."

Niall Sheehan said: "I was outraged that this doctor was allowed to carry out surgery on me when he wasn't skilled to do so. This sort of thing puts lives at risk. There's been a lot of publicity about rogue doctors carrying out cosmetic surgery on people and I hope that my experience is a lesson to others. I've had months of pain and discomfort, and no amount of compensation will make up for that."

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