Isle of Wight, UK – 12th April: The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has paid 22-year-old Jake Hill £125,000 in compensation after misdiagnosing his condition as a child.
Jake, of The Fairway, Sandown, was just 12 years old when he first attended St Mary's Hospital suffering from hip pain.
X-rays showed a slipped upper femoral epiphysis to his left hip, a condition where the ball of the thighbone slips from its place, but the images were misread by radiology staff.
By the time Jake's condition was correctly diagnosed, the slip had intensified from 35 degrees to 60 degrees.
The delay caused Jake increased back and hip pain and a shortening of his leg, which affected the way he walked.
He has needed three surgical operations to alleviate the pain and is now classed as disabled.
Since the slip was allowed to deteriorate, Jake is likely to develop joint disease osteoarthritis in his 30s and will require total hip replacement by the age of 40. Had he been correctly diagnosed and treated initially, he would not have needed a hip replacement until his 60s.
Jake said: "My condition could have been spotted long ago but instead it will impact the rest of my life in so many different ways. My health and resulting disability mean I can’t have the career in sport that I wanted.
"The money is a safety net for me and my family for when I need hip operations in the future."
Representing Jake, Thompsons Solicitors, which specialise in medical negligence claims, argued the misdiagnosis had caused Jake considerable difficulty in his life, including personal and financial hardship.
The £125,000 compensation will go towards his future medical care.
Madeleine Pinschof, of Thompsons, said: "Jake is a very young man who has had his career options limited needlessly. Swift and accurate diagnosis is key to preventing serious health problems and when it doesn’t happen, as in the case of our client, the consequences can be serious and lifelong."
Source: http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/XRay-error-leads-to-compensation-pay-out-by-Isle-of-Wight-NHS-313720.aspx