£5m payout after 35-year medical negligence fight
A mother whose son was left disabled after medical negligence has won her 35-year fight for justice.
The amount awarded was £5million to help her provide for her 35 year old son, who is unable to speak or feed himself.
She first attempted to launch a compensation claim from Manchester's Withington Hospital in the 1980s.
She was repeatedly told by medical experts that she had no chance of winning professional negligence compensation.
However, she never gave up hope and was inspired to renew her battle after seeing a similar case 11 years ago.
Speaking after the High Court settlement, the 55 old woman said: "From as soon as he was born I knew it was the hospital's fault but I never received a diagnosis from them or any explanation for his condition."
She said that no sum of money can ever compensate her son for what he has lost.
"This will never make him better but it will provide security when I cannot care for him and it will make life easier for us."
The NHS North West also issued a full apology to the young man and his family for the medical negligence.
"Isn't it time lessons were learned so other people would not have to go through this devastating heartache?" remarked the mother.
Updated on 05/02/2010