Delay in Diagnosis of Dispersion Glaucoma

Our client suffered from a rare ophthalmic condition called dispersion glaucoma, and believed that a failure on the part of the hospital treating him may have contributed to the severity of his condition.

Our approach

Our client asked us to investigate whether he might have shown signs of pigment dispersion earlier, and whether the doctors treating him might have missed this. A failure to properly diagnose our client meant he could not undergo the correct treatment in time to lower the impact of his ophthalmic issues.

The outcome

Our team were able to secure an admission of liability from the hospital. The hospital put forward an early offer of £200,000, which we advised him to reject. A further offer of £600,000 was then made, and accepted.

The case in detail

Our client had a rare ophthalmic condition causing dispersion glaucoma. Indeed, such was the complexity of this condition that not many expert Ophthalmologists wanted to accept instructions to advise. Essentially, our client instructed Fletchers to investigate whether there was any evidence of pigment dispersion earlier, whether the hospital should have regularly checked the pressure in his eyes, and whether this would have resulted in a diagnosis being made earlier. With timely treatment, this could have avoided the visual problems which our client developed.

This was an unusual and complicated case, but the expert team at Fletchers, following initial investigations and negotiations with the hospital’s legal team, were able to secure an admission of liability.

The hospital put forward an early offer to resolve the claim in the sum of £200,000.00. It was necessary to provide our client with appropriate legal advice, and that offer was rejected. Following further intensive negotiations, it was possible to secure a settlement for our client in the sum of £600,000.00.