Woman Compensated After Surgery Leads to Organ Damage

A woman has secured compensation totalling £82,500 after undergoing a hysterectomy during which she sustained damage to an internal organ.

The woman had suffered from painful menstrual bleeding for some years. Her GP referred her to a consultant gynaecologist and she was told that she needed an abdominal hysterectomy.

She was discharged the day after the operation, despite being in considerable pain and struggling to walk. She was still suffering from abdominal pains the following day and saw her GP again. She was admitted to hospital the day after that, but another two days passed before she was seen by a urologist.

It was discovered that she had suffered damage to her left ureter, preventing urine from passing through. She had to have a stent fitted, and continued to suffer from abdominal pain over the next few months. Her experience also affected her psychologically, and she lost her job after having to take five months off work.

She commenced a claim against the group that owned the hospital where the hysterectomy was performed. She alleged that her injuries had been caused by the operation being poorly carried out, and that alternative treatment options had not been discussed with her. Agreeing to pay her £77,500 in damages, the group accepted that the operation had been substandard and that she had not fully consented to it. She also secured compensation of £5,000 from the responsible NHS trust for the delay before she was seen by the urologist.