Neglect found to have contributed to death from a failure to diagnose Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Leila Benyounes represented the family of a lady who died at home from an undiagnosed pulmonary thromboembolism 10 days after presenting at her GP with sudden shortness of breath on exertion. Her death occurred seven days after she was discharged from hospital, after being referred there by her GP, due to a misdiagnosis of heart failure.
At the inquest, it was held that the lady developed a thromboembolism prior to her attendance at hospital, and in accordance with NICE guidance the presence of a pulmonary thromboembolism should have been suspected as a possible diagnosis. It was held that further investigations should have been arranged, which would have confirmed the diagnosis.
It was further held that high dose anti-coagulant medication should have been administered, thereby reducing the existing pulmonary thromboembolism, and preventing others from forming, which would have prevented the lady’s death.
The coroner found that there were gross failures to provide basic medical care to the lady, which would on the balance of probabilities, have prevented her death.
A formal finding of ‘neglect’ was made by the coroner who concluded that the lady’s death was aggravated by lack of care and recorded that the death was due to natural causes contributed to by neglect.
Leila was instructed by Jerard Knott and Laura Forsyth of Fletchers Solicitors.
Leila Benyounes is Head of the Inquests Team at Parklane Plowden Chambers and is ranked as Band 1 by Legal 500 for Inquests and Inquiries. Leila has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Treasury Counsel Panel A since 2010. Leila is appointed as an Assistant Coroner in two coronial areas. Leila regularly represents interested persons in a wide range of inquests including Article 2 jury inquests and complex medical matters. Her full profile can be accessed here.
