Gadsby Wicks, an Essex-based specialist medical negligence firm, helped its clients reach a fair settlement after a loved one sadly passed away due to an avoidable delay in treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

This delayed treatment case was settled in January 2023 for £150,000, and was handled by Tony Mitty, Medical Negligence Solicitor and Partner at Gadsby Wicks.

The Case

Mr P (anonymised to respect him and his family’s privacy) was referred by his GP to hospital in winter 2014 with a suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A CT angiogram confirmed this diagnosis and the aneurysm measured 5.5cm. A vascular review suggested there was evidence of inflammatory change around the aneurysm, but no need for urgent intervention.

Mr P’s case was meant to be reviewed at an upcoming MDT meeting, but was not. In the same month he reattended the A&E Department with severe back pain and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. At a vascular surgery outpatient appointment, he was informed that an anaesthetic assessment would be carried out, and a date set for open surgical repair in early 2015.

In the following months Mr P would return to A&E and be admitted to hospital with sudden onset of lower abdominal pain radiating to his lower back. A surgical review deemed that surgery to repair the AAA was too risky. Upon seeking a second opinion, he was informed he would be a good candidate for referral for surgery at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. By this time a CT angiogram showed the AAA had grown to 6.3cm.

Mr P underwent repair of a Type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm at St Thomas’ Hospital in spring 2015, and in the summer underwent a branched thoracoabdominal repair for an infected thoracic aortic false aneurysm. He lost function of his left kidney, and in autumn 2015 was informed the infection from his aneurysm had attached itself to the graft used in his surgery and was incurable.

Mr P would subsequently suffer renal and cardiac failure, and unfortunately pass away. The cause of death on his death certificate was recorded as I(a) ischaemic bowel (b) atherosclerosis II ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, aneurysms, hypertension.

The Claim

The case was pursued on the basis that failures prior to and immediately following the MDT meeting meant Mr P wasn’t referred to a vascular centre of excellence soon enough for an urgent repair of his AAA.

Had this referral been made, he would have undergone surgery by late 2014 or mid-February 2015 at the latest. At this stage, the AAA had not become infected and he would have made a good recovery.

The Result

Proceedings were issued by Gadsby Wicks, who acted to investigate the available evidence, interviewed relevant parties, and communicated with practising experts in vascular surgery and interventional radiology.

Initially, the Defendant denied breach of duty and causation, but following the exchange of expert advice, the claim settled and the compensation for delayed treatment was awarded in January 2023.

“We are pleased to have supported our clients through this claim and secure the compensation they deserved for the circumstances that led to their loved one’s death,” said Tony Mitty, the solicitor assigned to this delayed treatment case.

“When there is a preventable delay to treatment for conditions as serious as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the consequences can be severe. In this unfortunate situation, it cost someone their life.”

“While no amount of compensation can ever make up for this loss, we are happy that we could provide the family with answers to help them find closure, and provide them with the financial security to help manage their future. In these difficult circumstances, we are proud to support our clients and achieve the justice they, and their loved one, deserve.”

This is one of many delayed treatment cases that Gadsby Wicks has settled in the past 12 months, with the firm recently reporting a 45% increase in the number of delayed treatment claims in 2022.

Every year, Gadsby Wicks Solicitors helps people claim millions in compensation for delayed treatment, medical misdiagnosis, birth injuries, surgical complications and more. They have been dedicated to medical negligence since 1993, and are the only specialists in this area of law throughout Essex & East Anglia.

With an extensive level of legal and medical understanding throughout their team of solicitors, Gadsby Wicks is regarded as one of the top firms in their field, working tirelessly to support their clients in the most difficult and complex of circumstances.

Beginning with an initial exploratory consultation, the solicitors investigate all available evidence and consult impartial medical experts to build a case. From here, negotiations take place to reach a fair settlement, with 96% of their cases settling out of court.

Gadsby Wicks are also the first firm in England to have two or more lawyers accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and Managing Partner Gillian Gadsby is on the Clinical Negligence Specialist Panel for Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA).