Settlement Secured Following Negligent Kidney Treatment

• Published date: 26 November 2020
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Professional Negligence
• Law Firm: Leigh Day
• Author: Leigh Day

A settlement has been secured for a woman following negligent treatment at Barnet Hospital, part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust group, which resulted in the loss of her right kidney.

The diabetic woman, who we have called Lydia, was treated for the removal of kidney stones, but an underlying condition was missed.

Lydia had a congenital uretero-pelvic junction obstruction but did not suffer from any notable symptoms until she was around 57 years of age.

The obstruction was picked up when urological symptoms of pain and infection became troublesome, but the condition was misunderstood to be only due to kidney stones which were also present. The treatment therefore was repeat stenting, which was appropriate for either condition. However, when the kidney stones were removed, urologists believed they had dealt with Lydia's problem and didn't spot the underlying and contributing obstruction of the right kidney. This went untreated and when the stent was removed shortly after the stones, the deterioration of the still-blocked kidney went unchecked.

Lydia suspected that the stone removal had not resolved her problems and repeatedly asked for kidney function tests. Her concerns were dismissed, and the test was not performed.

By the time the kidney was recognised to be in trouble, Lydia had already suffered progressive kidney shrinkage and...