2 March 2017
Our Clinical Negligence Team has experience in dealing with all manner of cases but it is always concerning to hear when a medical practitioner has been struck off. Williamsons Solicitors has been asked to investigate a potential case in relation to treatment provided by Mr Nihal Weerasena, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, previously practicing for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust who has recently been struck off following surgery he undertook in July 2011 amongst a backdrop of other failings.
Problems arose at the time of birth for a young girl whose congenital heart defects were treated appropriately. In 2009, she had to undergo an operation to increase the oxygen levels around the upper level of her body. In 2011, she re-attended hospital and underwent a second procedure to increase the oxygen to the lower level of her body. At the time, the patient and her family were not concerned about the operation given that the first one had been successful. However, following this operation in 2011, the child became very unwell, leading to her needing a lung transplant. However, before this could be performed she sadly passed away at the age of 19.
The child’s family accepted her death as one of those things and thought all that could have been done had been done. However, it has since come to light by the General Medical Council that mistakes had been made by Mr Nihal Weerasena, and that this Surgeon had been making mistakes over a 10 year period, after receiving several complaints raised by his colleagues.
More recently, a successful case has been brought against the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for treatment received by Miss Carrie Wright who sadly passed away from negligent treatment a number of years after the routine operative procedure to repair a heart defect. Mr Weerasena cooled Carrie’s body and put her on circulatory arrest for 2 hours where, at the time, periods of circulatory arrest were regarded as unsafe at 45 minutes.
The family of Carrie were awarded £430,000 for the negligent treatment after years of fighting with the Trust to admit their failings. More can be seen here: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/mum-of-tragic-carrie-wright-20-awarded-huge-compensation-sum/story-30174401-detail/story.html
Previous patients who may have been treated by Mr Nihal Weerasena at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, are advised to contact Williamsons Solicitors if you have questions concerning your care. Our current investigation shows that if correct measures had been in place during the child’s surgery, it is extremely likely the complications suffered thereafter would not have happened.
If you or someone you know has received surgical care from Mr Nihal Weerasena, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, and you were not satisfied with the outcome which may have led to complications, then please contact our Clinical Negligence Team at Williamsons Solicitors on 01482 323697.
