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Substantial settlement for excess prescribing of zinc supplements

Substantial settlement for excess prescribing of zinc supplements

M R Law has successfully recovered substantial damages upon behalf of a man who suffered severe and life changing symptoms due to the excessive prescribing of zinc supplements.

A number of years ago the man underwent major surgery following an emergency admission to hospital. As part of his recovery, the hospital then prescribed zinc tablets to assist with the healing of his wounds.

Despite thereafter attending at two hospitals over a period of approximately 8 years his medication remained unchanged and he continued to take the zinc supplements.

Sadly, this led him to suffer neurological damage caused by excessive levels of zinc in his body. This affected his ability to walk and to use his hands, severely affecting the quality of his life.

Although he was eventually advised to cease taking the zinc supplements, the damage had been done and his neurological symptoms would never improve.

Robert Barker, head of the Medical Negligence team at M R Law who dealt with the case comments:

This was an extraordinary case. Those supplements are available as over-the-counter medication and it is not generally appreciated the potential complications that can arise if taken to excessive levels.. ~Robert Barker

“This was an extraordinary case. Our client was prescribed zinc supplements to aid his recovery. Those supplements are available as over-the-counter medication and it is not generally appreciated the potential complications that can arise if taken to excessive levels.

In this case, the hospitals should have advised our client to stop taking the zinc supplements many years ago during his regular medication reviews. He suffered an overdose of zinc, also affecting the copper level in his body and the consequences for our client were devastating.

The case required extensive investigations over a lengthy period against multiple parties, in particular to show the problems caused by the zinc supplements.

Eventually, two different hospitals accepted that they were at fault for failing to stop the supplements many years beforehand. Thereafter, we were able to secure a substantial award of
damages for our client based on the difficulties he would experience for the remainder of his life.”

If you have suffered complications arising from the incorrect prescribing of medication, please contact our specialist medical negligence team to speak directly to a qualified and experienced lawyer.

Problems for patient following elbow replacement surgery

A man whose elbow replacement surgery went wrong has recovered a substantial award of damages with assistance from M R Law.

He had first attended hospital after suffering a severe elbow injury whilst playing tennis. The surgeon recommended a complete elbow replacement operation without warning him of the consequences, for example his inability ever to return to the physical work he had done in the past.

To compound matters, the elbow replacement was then incorrectly placed and it took over another two years for this to be recognised with a further couple of years for the patient to undergo revision surgery.

In all, the individual had experienced in excess of four years of pain and discomfort in his elbow. Despite then undergoing revision surgery, his problems were likely to persist in the future.

We able to demonstrate that the treatment the hospital provided fell below a reasonable standard

Tracy Brimelow of the Medical Negligence team at M R Law who dealt with the case comments:

“I am relieved we were able to secure a substantial reward of damages upon behalf of our client.

At first, the hospital denied they had been at fault in any way for the additional symptoms our client had experienced. It was only through continued investigations and gathering of evidence were we able to demonstrate that the treatment they provided fell below a reasonable standard.

Those treating our client failed to give him an option of not undergoing an elbow replacement operation, as according to the evidence we obtained, despite the severity of his initial injury, his elbow was still treatable. Instead, our client underwent an elbow replacement that was always likely to prevent him performing physical work in the future, as a result of which he continued to suffer ongoing losses of earnings.

Our client had endured years of pain and further treatment, the vast majority of which could have been avoided. This affected all areas of his life including his ability to work and care for himself.

To achieve a positive outcome for our client was highly satisfactory as it gave him at least some reassurance for the future.”

If you have suffered complications arising from any form of orthopaedic treatment, please contact our specialist medical negligence team to speak directly to a qualified and experienced lawyer.