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Toni Bedward, Solicitor in our Medical Negligence team secured compensation for a Claimant (an Executor acting on behalf of his late mother’s estate) following his mother’s death. We were instructed to investigate serious concerns about all stages of care that the deceased received around the total hip replacement surgery which sadly led to her death.
The Deceased underwent total hip replacement surgery in November 2022. Despite being a frail patient with multiple comorbidities and complex anticoagulation needs, she was discharged from hospital with a highly unusual and unsafe combination of anticoagulant medications. Within days, she suffered a catastrophic internal bleed, leading to multi-organ failure. She sadly died shortly afterwards.
From the outset, our specialist clinical negligence team identified that this was not a single failing, but a catalogue of errors. Issues were identified at most stages of the deceased’s care including her pre-operative work up, post-surgical treatment and even following her collapse. Our investigation revealed significant concerns including failures in informed consent, medication management, consultant oversight, discharge planning and safety-netting advice.
In particular, we uncovered that:
The Deceased had not been properly advised that death was a material risk of surgery, undermining informed consent.
Clinicians mistakenly treated her as if she were taking Warfarin rather than Rivaroxaban, leading to inappropriate “bridging” with low molecular weight heparin before surgery.
She was discharged on two anticoagulants simultaneously, without specialist haematology input, adequate monitoring, or consultant approval. Our evidence confirmed that there were no circumstances where the two particular anticoagulants which were prescribed should be taken together.
There was a failure to provide clear advice on warning signs that required urgent medical attention post-discharge which meant that opportunities to intervene after discharge were missed.
Taylor Rose and barristers from Serjeants’ Inn Chambers represented the family throughout a lengthy and complex Coroner’s Inquest, carefully testing the evidence of multiple clinicians and exposing gaps in decision-making and accountability. Disappointingly, we heard at the inquest many instances of clinicians who had concerns, but didn’t want to be the person to raise them. Following the inquest we then obtained independent expert evidence from a Consultant Haematologist, which strongly supported the Claimant’s case that excessive and unnecessary anticoagulation caused a fatal haemorrhage.
Following the inquest, Taylor Rose prepared a detailed Letter of Claim and made a strategic Part 36 offer. While the hospital failed to make any admissions in respect of liability, they accepted the Claimant’s offer of £30,000 to avoid protracted litigation. This settlement is six times higher than the initial valuation of the claim.
Although no admission of fault was made, Taylor Rose secured meaningful answers for the family, financial compensation, and confirmation that changes have since been implemented at the hospital to improve access to specialist haematology advice for complex patients.
This case highlights Taylor Rose’s commitment to:
• Meticulous analysis of complex medical evidence
• Robust representation at inquests
• Strategic litigation decisions that deliver results
• Holding healthcare providers to account, even in the absence of admissions
Above all, Taylor Rose ensured that the Deceased’s family were heard, supported, and able to achieve a measure of justice in the most difficult of circumstances.
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