Multi-million pound payout for mother of disabled son
03 Feb 2012
A mother from Wembley has been awarded millions in compensation as
a result of
errors made during her pregnancy.
Smita Patel has been given GBP6million to help pay for the lifetime
care of her son Ronak, now 29, the London Evening Standard
reported.
While she was pregnant, he was starved of oxygen when staff at
Northwick Park Hospital failed to diagnose and treat her
appendicitis when she was taken in during November 1982.
During the hearing at the High Court, her solicitors argued that if
a timely appendectomy had been performed, Mr Patel would not have
been deprived of the oxygen it needed.
As a result of the error, he was born with severe disabilities
which mean he has limited use of his arms and legs, little speech
and poor vision, as well as the need for round the clock
care.
According to the news source, North West London Hospital NHS Trust
originally offered to settle for 55 per cent of the damages but
eventually agreed to a payout worth 90 per cent of the original
clinical negligence claim.
"This money will make a tremendous difference. Ronak will be able
to live with us and we will have round-the-clock carers. We won't
have to fight people for funding and equipment," Ms Patel
explained.
"For me, the stress levels will come down. It means whether I am
here or not he will be looked after with the help of the
courts."
Last week, Adam Spinks was awarded GBP3.35million compensation
after clinical errors left him starved of oxygen at birth.
Now 25, Mr Spinks was diagnosed with
cerebral palsy and needs 24-hour
care.
