Gynaecology / Oophorectomy

Failure to diagnose

Failure to diagnose leading to unnecessary oophrecotmy

Success story

Gillian was 16 when she presented with lower abdominal pain in 2001. She was admitted to hospital and underwent a scan which showed a full bladder. The pain subsided and she was discharged. She was readmitted two weeks later and an ovarian cyst was diagnosed. She then underwent laparotomy with left salpingo-oophorectomy. She alleged that the cyst should have been diagnosed earlier, and that this would have avoided subsequent pain and extensive surgery. PMS Expert Report concurred, noting that the failure to diagnose a very large tubal cyst in the first instance was negligent. As a result of this, Gillian suffered two weeks unnecessary pain and, more seriously, the delay led to the unnecessary loss of her left fallopian tube and ovary. The case settled, and Gillian was compensated.