£100,000 for GP negligence causing accelerated renal failure

We are pleased to announce that we have today settled, at a round table meeting, a GP negligence matter in the sum of £100,000.

Our client, Mr C, from Gillingham, presented with hypertension during 2006 and early 2007. There was a failure to refer him to a Nephrologist (kidney specialist), and an ongoing failure to re-check his renal function throughout 2007 and 2008.

This resulted in Mr C suffering a ‘crash landing’ renal failure in October 2008 which meant that he had to proceed immediately to dialysis.

Sadly a subsequent transplant with his brother as a donor, in February 2011 succumbed to infection so that the prognosis for the transplant is poor (nothing to do with the negligence).

Expert evidence showed that the failure by the GP to properly monitor and refer Mr C resulted in accelerated and sudden renal failure. Although renal failure would have occurred, eventually, notwithstanding the negligence, its advent would have been delayed by at least 2 years, but for the negligence, during which time treatment could have been undertaken and preparation made for a transplant avoiding dialysis.

Nick Fairweather, who had conduct of this matter, commented:-

“This case underlines how dependent we all are on the quality of the primary care that we receive.  By the time things went wrong for our client it was too late to treat him for renal failure other than by dialysis”.

Mr C commented:-

“The negligence by my GP has had a devastating affect on my life and that of my family.  I am pleased, however, that we have managed to secure compensation which will mean that things will be easier for us financially going forward.”