Field Fisher Waterhouse wins compensation for dextrose overdose
girl
Released
on: December 15, 2008, 5:58 am
Press
Release Author: Field
Fisher Waterhouse
Industry:
Law
Press
Release Summary: Field Fisher Waterhouse wins substantial compensation
for premature girl left with brain damage following dextrose overdose
Press
Release Body: Law firm, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
has won substantial compensation for Romy Smith,
a seven year old girl who was given an excessive dose of dextrose
shortly after birth and suffered severe and permanent brain damage
as a result. Romy will receive damages that could add up to more
than £10 million over her lifetime.
Romy
Smith was born prematurely at 29 weeks in 2001 at the Ipswich
General Hospital and was transferred to the Lister Hospital in
Stevenage, where she was given a "grossly excessive dose"
of the sugar dextrose. This resulted in perfusion brain
injury, which caused severe learning difficulties and autism.
Romy's communication and social skills are very limited, she needs
constant care and will remain totally dependent on carers for
the rest of her life.
Romy,
however, has a special talent for music, which is her primary
means of enjoyment. In addition to her care, the payment will
also cover the cost of music therapy.
The
East and North Herfordshire NHS Trust, which had previously admitted
liability, will pay Romy an initial sum of £2.36 million
and a series of index-linked "periodical payments" to
cover Romy's lifetime care expenses.
Paul
McNeil, clinical negligence partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse,
was instructed by Romy's mother to represent her in the claim.
After
the case, Romy's parents, Sally and Tim Smith
said: "We are absolutely delighted at the settlement
that Paul McNeil has secured for our daughter. Throughout the
whole time that Paul has worked with us, we have found him to
be very caring, extremely skilled and highly organised. He has
kept our family's best interests at heart at all times and has
always answered any concerns we may have had calmly, quickly and
efficiently. We are enormously grateful to him for the way in
which he conducted our case and we cannot praise him enough. We
would not hesitate in recommending him to anyone."
Paul
McNeil, clinical
negligence partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse said:
"Although nothing can be done to undo the mistake made in
the special care baby unit, there is a lot that can be done to
maximise Romy's potential. The payments guaranteed to Romy will
ensure her needs are covered for life. Those close to Romy were
delighted that the judge supported the need to have access to
music therapy."
Claim number HQ06X01206
-ends-
About
Field Fisher Waterhouse
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a full-service European law firm
with offices in Brussels, Hamburg and London. With 119 partners,
over 200 other lawyers and nearly 300 support staff, FFW assist
a wide range of international clients, advising across a full
range of legal issues.
The
main areas of practice are corporate and commercial, IP and technology,
banking and finance, regulatory and real estate. Field Fisher
Waterhouse LLP also have particular expertise in competition &
EU law, dispute resolution, employment, asbestos claims, personal
injury, brain
damage cases, clinical negligence, public sector and tax.
Web
Site: http://www.personalinjury.ffw.com/
Contact
Details: For further press information please contact:
Louise Eckersley
PR Manager
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
35 Vine Street
London
EC3N 2AA
United Kingdom
020 7861 4120
2012
