Foot amputation
In this case study, we are going to take a look at the events which lead to a woman requiring a foot amputation which resulted in them making a successful claim for compensation to the value of £100,000.
Although an amputated foot is one of the most common types of amputation, this particular case was uncommon in the way it occurred. What made this case somewhat unique was the fact it was a delay in receiving treatment, and a subsequent ulcer that the victim suffered from due to this delay, that lead directly to the need for amputation.
Circumstances Which Led to the Foot Amputation Surgery
The victim of this unfortunate incident had developed a large blister on her right foot, very close to her toes. However, this alone is not usually one of the common causes of amputation. General treatment for this kind of medical condition is the aspiration of the blister, followed by a course of antibiotics to clear up any lingering infection. And indeed, this is exactly the treatment the victim was given.
Following this treatment, the victim’s medical condition failed to improve. It did in fact, get much worse. So much worse that she needed an amputation meaning she had to have her entire left foot removed due to a delay in receiving the correct treatment. Furthermore, due to additional complications of amputation treatment, shortly afterwards she had to have her entire leg below the knee amputated.
Details of the Amputation Injury
A unique set of circumstances were the reasons for foot amputation in this specific case study. The timeline in this case was:
- The victim visited her general practitioner to have a blister on her foot drained. This was done, and a course of antibiotics was prescribed to deal with the infection.
- The victim’s health became worse, the blister became a serious ulcer and she should have been referred to a specialist, but she wasn’t.
- Her medical condition became so acute that she was finally had to visit the hospital, where it was discerned that she required foot amputation surgery.
- Due to the fact that the condition had been left so long, the choice of foot amputation types the doctor selected to treat the injury was insufficient to remove the entire infection and a further amputation was needed just below the left knee.
Additionally, when we look at how long does leg amputation surgery take to heel completely, in this case, the patient needed to undergo a long period of rehabilitation before she was finally discharged from hospital and sent home.
The Case and Foot Amputation Compensation Award
The answer to the question how long does it take to recover from a foot amputation? in this case, was several months. This is a typical answer to how long does it take to heal from a foot amputation? So, no claim was made for medical malpractice after the amputation. The claim of £100,000 was for different reasons.
Had the podiatrist who originally treated the blister and infection of her foot had realised that there were complications earlier on and sent her to see a vascular surgeon it is entirely likely that there would have been no need at all for an amputation.
Not only did the victim lose their left leg from the knee downwards, she was also left with severe psychological problems, and the combination of physical and psychological damage meant that she needed in-home help with her day to day life, as well as to manage household chores.
The doctors involved initially denied that they were liable and stated no medical malpractice had occurred. However, later down the line liability was admitted, and a total settlement of £100,000 in compensation was paid.
No Win No Fee Solicitors
This was a particularly tragic case and one which the victim likely could not have pursued using their own limited financial resources. However, the fact that they used a No Win No Fee solicitors meant that they did not have to tie up their own money whilst the case was being processed.
By using a no win no fee claims service, the victim had nothing to pay at the outset of the claim, and no ongoing legal costs to pay whilst the claim was being pursued. Indeed, due to the nature of the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), they did not pay any fees until the compensation had been awarded. And although the solicitor won the case, had they not, the victim would not have had to pay anything at all.
How Legal Expert Can Help
If you have suffered a serious medical such as a foot amputation due to medical malpractice, then we can help you. All you need to do is a give us a call on 0800 073 8804. We will take all of the details of your specific case, and then we will make a recommendation on how you should move forward. In most cases, we will offer to take on your claim under a No Win No Fee agreement. This means you have nothing to pay upfront and don’t pay anything unless we win compensation for you. SO you really have nothing to lose, contact us today to find out how we can help you claim the medical negligence compensation you are entitled to.
Useful Links
LegalExpert.co.uk amputation claims guide
A guide from Legal Expert on amputation claims.
LegalExpert.co.uk foot amputation compensation guide
A guide from Legal Expert to claiming compensation for a foot amputation.
NHS information and general advice on amputation.
