1st February 2024 – Neuro-Behçet’s disease is a highly disabling complication of Behçet’s disease which can either cause inflammation of the brain / spinal tissue directly or inflammation and blockage of the blood supplying them.
The disease requires early and strong immune therapy.
Our client Mrs T presented at Medway Maritime Hospital in 2015 and a stroke was suspected during the course of her admission. She underwent various CT scans and MRI imaging of her head and brain.
These images were highly suggestive of an inflammatory / vasculitic process and were not typical of stroke. Nonetheless Mrs T was discharged with a primary diagnosis of Pontine Infarction.
She had further investigations at Medway in April 2016 and the impression was an exacerbation of previous stroke symptoms. She underwent further head scans and brain imaging.
The doctors then became suspicious of a Pontine Tumour and the imaging was sent to Kings College Hospital Neuro-Oncology MDT to review and give their opinion.
The MDT met at the beginning of July and confirmed that the imaging was suggestive of a high grade aggressive Pontine Tumour. The instruction was that Mrs T should receive best supportive care.
She was sent home to receive end of life palliative care. Over the course of the following year Mr T’s condition deteriorated and when she was admitted to Medway once again in November 2017 the staff were surprised that she was still alive.
After undergoing more imaging the Neuro-Radiologists decided that it was probably an old stroke rather than a tumour.
Mrs T and her husband were extremely disillusioned with this ping-pong diagnostic process and the following year instructed this firm to investigate a claim. In fact Mrs T still didn’t have the correct diagnosis and it was not until the first expert was instructed that, (at his suggestion), the correct course was taken towards a diagnosis of Neuro-Behçet’s disease.
By this stage Mrs T had deteriorated significantly and treatment could only stabilise the disease. There could not be any improvement in her condition.
Mrs T was left with marked neurological disabilities and severe physical disability. She was bed bound and totally reliant on others for her care. Her life expectancy was reduced by ten years.
These life changing injuries required a 24 hour commercial care package and ultimately the provision of adapted accommodation with facilities for physiotherapy.
Disappointingly both Defendants (Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) initially only admitted minor elements of the claim and the case entered litigation.
However, after completing further investigations the Defendants eventually suggested a settlement meeting.
After a full day of negotiations the Defendants agreed to pay a settlement of £3.5 million pounds, the majority of which will pay for Mrs T’s future care and accommodation.
Steve Evans, the Solicitor with conduct of the claim throughout commented: “After more than five years Mrs T has received substantial compensation which she thoroughly deserves after what happened. Mrs T and her husband can now plan a better life together after waiting patiently for the Defendants to accept their failings and adopting a sensible settlement position”.
Mrs T’s husband commented: “I cannot thank Fairweathers Solicitors enough for what they have done for my wife helping us to win our settlement. Fairweathers are a first class Solicitors with excellent staff. We will always be grateful for their help and support”.
If you or your family need the assistance of our experienced specialist team of Clinical Negligence Solicitors then please submit your case details for our consideration.