123 DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER, M3 2BU
- Tel:
- Work 0161 909 3000
- Fax:
- Fax 0161 909 4444
- DX:
- 14314 MANCHESTER 1
- Web:
- www.pannone.com
- Email:
Top Solicitor Voices Concern over Meningitis Deaths
A top clinical negligence solicitor from Manchester law firm Pannone LLP has voiced concerns over the number of cases of meningitis that are failing to be spotted by GP’s, doctors and A&E staff in UK hospitals.
Emma Holt, a Partner and Head of the Clinical Negligence department at Pannone, says her fears were aroused this week by the tragic death of 20 year old Natalie Naylor, who died as a result of sub-standard treatment afforded to her by Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust in Surrey. On arrival at hospital the triage nurse failed to categorise Natalie’s symptoms of a severe headache, a stiff neck and a rash on her legs, as a need for immediate assessment. Thereafter, three Accident and Emergency doctors went on to dismiss the possibility that she was suffering from meningitis. Less than 24 hours later, Natalie suffered brain stem damage and her life support machine was switched off. Had Natalie received proper treatment and a timely diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis B made then she would have received antibiotics and her life would have been saved.
Dramatic consequences
Emma Holt said, "Clinical mistakes are the exception but when they do happen, they have dramatic emotional and physical consequences on both the patient and their families. Those affected want answers to the questions about what went wrong with the treatment that they or their loved one received at the treating hospital or clinic. We can help in getting some answers to these questions, getting someone to take responsibility for their actions and seek reassurances that something like this will not happen to another family.
At Pannone, our clinical negligence solicitors conduct full and independent investigations into what happened and seek compensation if appropriate. Pursuing a complaint for clinical negligence can be complex, time consuming and distressing. We can provide help and support on an ongoing basis and do whatever we can to ease the burden."
Pannone currently has a number of cases involving meningitis and septicaemia, which include delay in diagnosis and failure to provide prompt and adequate treatment once the illness has been diagnosed. Emma Holt continued, "We have already successfully concluded a £1.3 million settlement for a 3 year old child who suffered a permanent brain injury following delay by a GP in diagnosing meningitis, a £1.5 million settlement for a young woman who suffered a below knee amputation and the loss of fingers due to a failure by her GP to act promptly and refer her for specialist treatment which caused a delay in the diagnosis."
Seek specialist advice
Emma concluded, "My advice to anyone faced with the terrible situation of being affected themselves, or having a loved one affected by negligence in treatment, is to seek specialist legal advice as promptly as possible. Ultimately, our aim is to help our clients address the issues which are important to them, offer them help and support throughout the course of a case and make difficult situations easier to manage with specialist advise and guidance."
Emma Holt can be reached by calling Freephone 0800 0382 382, for more information please visit Clinical Negligence Solicitors at Pannone LLP.
Legal Developments worldwide
-
Harmonising Anti-Circumvention Protection with Copyright Law
Technological measures are increasingly used by rightholders in order to protect their intellectual property rights in digital content. The effect of such measures is to restrict the access to and the use of digital content, by associating pre-defined and self-executing usage rules with it. Within an increasing number of legislations, technological measures enjoy legal protection against circumvention. However, these new rules have been subject to rather severe criticism, especially from a copyright law point of view, the general claim being that anti-circumvention protection threatens to ruin the delicate balance of interests cast in the provisions of copyright law. -
How to stop fraud before it happens
Stopping fraud before it happens is the ultimate goal of a successful fraud prevention and awareness programme. Whilst it is important that fraud prevention controls are robust and are methodically implemented, too often companies fail to recognize that it is the perception of the likelihood of detection and sanction which discourages a person from perpetrating fraud, rather than the actual effectiveness of the internal controls and anti-fraud measures. -
Consumer Protection Act and leases
The Consumer Protection Act 2008 (“ the Act ”) was assented to on 24 April 2009 and is to come into operation incrementally with the majority of the provisions coming into effect 18 months after the date on which the Act was signed by the President. Accordingly the majority of the provisions of the Act will come into operation on 24 October 2010. -
The impact of competition law changes/developments on M&A activity
The Impact of Competition Law changes/developments (including the practices and policies of the Commission/Tribunal) on M&A activity - with a specific focus on 2008 and also forward looking taking into account expected legislative changes. If possible mention actual company names/cases wherever possible to make it have real life application -
Contributed tax capital: simplicity at last!
By now, many will have heard something about c ontributed tax capital (CTC). A year or so hence, the concept will form part of the South African tax terrain – to the relief of tax practitioners who have had to trawl through the Income Tax Act’s (“the Act”) three-to-four page long definition of a dividend . I certainly heaved a sigh of relief when I read the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill of 2008 (“Bill”). -
The Consumer Protection Bill – Changing the Face of Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The Consumer Protection Bill is the Department of Trade and Industry’s omnibus consumer protection legislation which has been passed by Parliament and is currently awaiting the President’s signature. -
Deliberate manipulation of securities prices will invariably and inevitably be harshly penalised
Deliberate manipulation of securities prices will be harshly penalised. That’s the clear message to emerge from the 17 February 2009 Financial Services Appeal Board case of Michael Berman vs the Financial Services Board . -
Unconstitutionality of the Competition Amendment Bill By Andrew Smith and Emmylou Wewege
It is hoped that the President will refer the Competition Amendment Bill to the Constitutional Court rather than sign it into to law so as to resolve its unconstitutionality and avoid unnecessary litigation. Failure to do so will spark constitutional challenges which will prevent it from being implemented while that litigation unfolds. -
New Laws in the Pipe Line to Decisively Respond to the Challenge of Climate Change
New laws may be in the pipeline in South Africa to address climate change after the South African Finance Minister’s (“the Minister”) Budget speech o n 11 February 2009. In the 2009 Budget speech, the Minister announced specific additional measures which South Africa will implement in responding to climate change. -
Big business beware – the class and derivative actions are coming! by Carl Stein
The trend over the past decade in the USA , and more recently in the UK after the enactment of its new Companies Act in 2006, towards more aggressive shareholder activism seems likely to be followed in South Africa once our new Companies Act becomes operative. This new Act is only awaiting the State President’s signature in order to become law, although it will only come into operation at least one year after the State President does so.