Sarah Jackson and her team successfully concluded a complicated claim concerning delayed diagnosis of gallstones. Jessica (not her real name) developed symptoms which were due to gallstones but her GP wrongly concluded that she was suffering from reflux, in spite of Jessica not responding to treatment for reflux. Jessica needed referral to a surgeon for investigations of gallstone disease and consideration of surgery to remove the gallbladder but this did not take place and her concerns were dismissed.

Over the following months, Jessica continued to suffer symptoms which gradually worsened and around a year after the GP appointment in question, Jessica became seriously ill with acute pancreatitis, as well as having a significant collection of fluid in her abdomen and pelvis. This was caused by the gallstones. The gallstones were quickly diagnosed when she was admitted to hospital and she underwent emergency surgery, namely a cholecystectomy.

She however suffered significant complications following the surgery and needed to undergo further surgery to create a stoma. She thereafter suffered with infection and abscess but gradually made a recovery over a period of months. During this time, Jessica was faced with adapting to life as a young woman with a stoma. This affected all aspects of her life, namely her marriage, her work and her leisure activities. This took not only a physical toll but also an emotional and psychological toll. She also developed a bowel obstruction due to hernia related to the stoma around a year after the surgeries.

The stoma was eventually reversed, after a couple of years, in respect of which Jessica was very happy but she was still left with ongoing significant physical symptoms related to her bowel function and psychological symptoms, as well as an increased risk of developing future complications, including bowel obstruction, hernia, diabetes and relapse of the major depressive disorder suffered.

Had Jessica received the care that she should, she would have made an uncomplicated recovery after removal of the gallstones and would not have gone on to develop acute pancreatitis. She would not have needed to have a stoma.

Jessica’s claim was initially fully disputed by the GP, meaning that court proceedings needed to be issued. Even once court proceedings were issued, a denial of liability was maintained, even though the GP acknowledged that Jessica’s symptoms had, on the balance of probabilities, always been due to the gallstones and not reflux. Sarah, after liaising extensively with the solicitors for the GP, was able to argue Jessica’s case and challenge the GP’s position, providing evidence that she would have come to gallstone surgery before developing the pancreatitis and thus would have avoided the need for a stoma.

Reaching a settlement made a massive difference to Jessica. As well as providing compensation and the financial security that comes with that, it provided much needed answers and justice for what she had been through, so that she was able to move on with her life and focus upon the future. Sarah and her team were thrilled to get a positive outcome for Jessica, having worked with her closely over a number of years and seen the significant impact of the medical negligence upon her.