Medical Negligence

A patient who was left with debilitating symptoms after she was given high doses of the antibiotic Gentamicin has been awarded £250,000 in compensation. Gentamicin Toxicity case against Barnet Hospital Her case started with heart surgery by way of aortic and mitral valve replacement, but ten days later she developed an infection in the wound area.

After two weeks of pain she was admitted to Barnet Hospital and started on a once daily 500mg dose of the antibiotic Gentamicin. When administered correctly Gentamicin should be given under strict dosage levels and be calculated on the patient's correct body weight. Neither was our client given any advice on the side effects of gentamicin and the potential risk of vestibular damage or indeed asked if she had any hearing loss or ear problems.

Gentamicin Toxicity case against St Barts Hospital London Mrs Gourdarznia was transferred to Barts Hospital for removal of a pacing wire, these are left behind routinely and were part of her initial heart operation, but again no consideration was given to her worsening hearing and balance and the risks associated with Gentamicin were not explained to her and the administration of Gentamicin continued. Her dizziness worsened, she had difficulty walking, lost her balance and suffered from oscillopsia, a sensation that the surrounding environment is constantly in motion. It was found that her Gentamicin ototoxicity and vestibular damage was attributable to the negligent mismanagement of her antibiotic therapy at Barnet Hospital on two occasions and Bart’s Hospital on one occasion.

“We have acted in many Gentamicin cases and had successful results for our clients. “Transparency and accountability are the keys to improving patient safety moving forward and in most cases our clients are hoping to make sure the same does not happen to other patients. In this case a settlement of £250,000 compensation was paid, but our client has been left with disabling unsteadiness, is unable to walk unaided, needs help with all her domestic chores, can no longer drive and relies heavily on her family for assistance.

It is expected that she will need continued therapy, domestic assistance and adapted single storey accommodation.

Compensation settlement: £250,000

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