Cancer victim’s family awarded £350,000 compensation
In a public liability case, the family of a mother who died from cancer has been awarded £350,000 in compensation claims, after poor medical care led to her death.
A 23-year-old mother of two, the patient was not given the proper care by medical staff and doctors failed to detect that she was suffering from cancer after three visits to her local hospital.
The woman, who was a student of textile design at the University of Wales Institute, first had cancer problems in May 2004. Doctors detected a cyst and fluid above her liver and she underwent an operation in 2005 to correct the problems.
She later returned to hospital complaining of various symptoms, but doctors did not treat her, after telling her that she was fine and the illness was all in her head.
A senior doctor also informed her to seek treatment from a psychiatrist. She later died from “peritonitis and malignant non-Hodgkins lymphoma”.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust, who operate the hospital, admitted liability for the medical negligence incident and after a five-year legal battle, a compensation payout of £350,000 was finally awarded to the family.
Updated on 31/03/2010