£3.5m settlement to help young woman cope with sight loss due to delayed Papilledema diagnosis
LOSING your sight drastically alters every aspect of daily life – massively affecting your mobility, communication, employment opportunities and independence.
That’s why we are delighted to have successfully won a seven-year battle to secure a £3.5m compensation settlement from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for a young woman, who does not wish to be named, after she suffered permanent sight loss because of medical negligence.
Due to a delayed diagnosis of papilledema, a condition where the optic nerve head swells and is irreparably damaged due to increased intracranial pressure, she sadly suffered permanent vision damage – forcing her to give up work and require significant daily support.
Assessment failure causes disastrous delay
Aged 18 at the time of the incident, she first presented with headaches, neck pain, and blurred vision on 18th November 2016. Despite attending Accident & Emergency the next day, the correct visual examination procedures were not performed. No examination was made of her visual acuity or of the retina and optic disc by ophthalmoscopy. Instead, she was provided with strong painkillers and discharged the same day with a diagnosis of a non-specific viral infection.
It was only 10 days later, at a high-street optician, that significant swelling of her optic nerve was identified, leading to an urgent hospital referral – where a Grade 5 papilledema was confirmed.
She continued to receive care from the Neurology Department, where she was diagnosed with benign idiopathic intracranial hypertension, undergoing a lumbar puncture and surgery to insert a VP shunt to drain excess fluid. After the surgery, her headaches and vision improved but unfortunately, by this point, the delay had resulted in permanent vision damage.
She now has no peripheral vision, a constricted field of vision and is expected to lose sight in her other eye within the next 15 to 20 years.
Investigation reveals duty of care failures
Faced with a life of severely restricted vision, and now heavily reliant on her family for day-to-day activities, the woman asked us to conduct a thorough investigation into her care.
Following a thorough investigation and lengthy legal fight, led by our experienced solicitor Alixandra Cadden-Young, it was proven that the failure to perform a crucial fundoscopy on 19th November 2016 constituted a breach of duty. Had the appropriate examination been conducted, her sight could have been saved.
Having been highly independent and studying for an NVQ in Administration at the time of the incident, the woman is now unable to work and has suffered from depression and panic attacks since the incident.
To provide financial security for the lifelong care she will need, we were thrilled to secure a £3.5m compensation payment in May 2023 – after previously turning down two settlement offers.
Reflecting on a drawn out and difficult case, Ms Cadden-Young said: “Losing her sight due to a minor procedure not being followed is devastating. It will deeply affect her daily life and negatively impact upon her independence, mobility and ability to work.
“While no compensation can bring back her sight, this payout will help her regain some independence and improve her quality of life. I’m very pleased with the outcome and the significant settlement, which will give her the financial assistance needed to make crucial adjustments to her home and access ongoing support.”
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