Compensation secured after fatal heart attack

George Liley, specialist clinical negligence lawyer, successfully obtained £725,000 in compensation for the family of a man who died of a fatal heart attack, after his treating cardiologist failed to implant an internal defibrillator (ICD device).

The patient had collapsed four times within the space of one year. Aside from these episodes, he was fit and healthy. He undertook his own research and asked his treating cardiologists to implant an ICD device, however his request was ignored. He collapsed and suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 49.

The patient’s widow approached Thomson Snell & Passmore to investigate her husband’s medical negligence claim on a no win no fee basis.

We obtained an expert report from a cardiologist, whose opinion was that the deceased should have been fitted with an ICD device after the second, third and fourth collapse and that the failure to do so constituted negligent care.

George prepared a Letter of Claim, following which the defendant admitted liability in full and accepted that the deceased’s early death would have been prevented had the ICD device been fitted.

There was a significant dispute on what the deceased’s life expectancy would have been and what his quality of life would have been had he been shocked by the ICD.

At a settlement meeting, the case settled for £725,000 in damages.

George Liley specialises in clinical negligence cases. If you would like to ask George a question about a potential case, or if you have a general query about any clinical negligence matter, contact George at Thomson Snell & Passmore solicitors on 01892 701154 in confidence.  We offer no win no fee agreements on the vast majority of our clinical negligence and personal injury cases.