Missed diagnosis caused psychological trauma in new mum 

Our client experienced a psychological injury after an issue with her liver went undiagnosed by her midwives and doctors. The compensation we secured for her meant she could access the therapy she needed. This case study explores:  

• The missed diagnosis  
• The impact on her family and loved ones 
• The case and settlement  

The incident  

Our client had an uneventful pregnancy until she began to feel unwell at around 35 weeks pregnant, suffering from: 

• Vomiting  
• Inability to keep food down  
• Discharge  
• Strange pains  
• Pelvic pressure  
• Shivers  

These symptoms continued and gradually worsened. Our client contacted and attended maternity triage on several occasions seeking help, but no clear diagnosis was given, and she was repeatedly reassured everything was fine. As her condition continued to decline without explanation or treatment, both she and her baby became increasingly unwell. 

Ultimately, the lack of diagnosis and earlier intervention led to our client requiring an emergency caesarean section. Her child was born in a poor condition and required resuscitation. She was then told she had experienced acute fatty liver of pregnancy.  

The impact  

The trauma of the delayed diagnosis, including its impact on the client’s birth and child, left her experiencing severe psychological trauma. Although our client recovered physically following her discharge from hospital, the emotional impact has been severe. She continues to experience psychological symptoms including flashbacks, low mood, feelings of guilt and difficulty sleeping. The birth of her child, which should have been a positive and joyful experience, instead became a deeply traumatic event.  

Kathryn Sitt, a solicitor in our medical negligence team, shares “I am glad I was able to help my client get some form of closure. Although the successful resolution of the claim does not mean I can turn back time and change what happened to her, I am hopeful the compensation will enable my client to take steps to move forward with her life and enjoy her time with her child.”

The case 

After her experience, our client instructed our expert medical negligence team to investigate whether the care she received had fallen below an acceptable standard. We reviewed her medical records, took a detailed account of what had happened, and sought expert medical evidence to understand whether her care breached the medical duty of care. 

As part of this process, a formal Letter of Claim was sent to the hospital setting out the key failures in care and explaining how these failures had led to avoidable harm. The hospital carried out its own investigation and ultimately accepted liability for what had happened. 

As a result of this admission, the case was able to progress without the need for court proceedings. Compensation was secured to reflect the pain and distress our client suffered, as well as some out of pocket expenses such as loss of earnings as she has struggled to return to work. Some of this money has allowed her to access the psychological therapy she needed to support her recovery. 

Here when you need us 

At Fletchers we believe no one should suffer maternity care that means they feel unheard or unsafe. Through our “Every Birth” campaign, we are committed to supporting families affected by avoidable maternity failures and to helping ensure lessons are learned so that standards of care improve for others.  

If you or a loved one feel something went wrong during pregnancy, labour, or birth, our specialist medical negligence team is on hand to support you with compassionate legal advice. Contact us today.