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Standards of care in foreign hospitals need to be monitored as, on certain occasions, levels of treatment may be deemed neglectful and the suffering caused may necessitate a medical negligence claim.
In January 2009 a UK inquest heard that a soldier who had been serving in Germany died as a result of medical negligence when the care he received from German doctors and health workers fell short of UK standard practice.
On the day of the medical negligence incident the soldier had become intoxicated after consuming alcohol. When he fell and injured his head, he was taken to a civilian hospital where it is alleged he was put on a trolley, restrained with straps to his head, arms, body and legs, and put in a side room.
The patient was then left for between five and fifteen minutes in which time he ingested his own vomit and died of asphyxiation.
An expert witness told the hearing that with proper care the soldier would probably have survived and that doctors looking after him should have ensured that he was constantly monitored and nursed in the recovery position.
The recovery position is a standard method of first-aid practice in the UK whereby the unconscious or semiconscious patient is laid on their side with their limbs in such a position so as to prevent them from rolling over. This is essential to protect their airway in the event of vomiting.
In a written statement to the inquest, the doctor who was in charge of the soldier's care said that the patient had been uncooperative and using bad language, but had not been aggressive. He also said that the patient had been able to move, but his letter offered no explanation as to why the 30-year-old man choked on his own vomit.
He accepted that the standard of care given to the patient fell below what would be expected in the UK.
The coroner said that he had been unlawfully killed. He added, "I am satisfied there was gross negligence in this case."
The personal injury solicitor acting on behalf of the man's family, said, "In 25 years of working in clinical negligence I've never seen anything like this, but at least this verdict gives the family some justice."
Medical negligence in overseas care and the experts at YouClaim
If you or a loved one has received care in a UK or foreign hospital that has in any way been the causal factor in personal injury or death you may be able to make a medical negligence claim with the experts at YouClaim.
The complexities of such cases mean that there may be charges required for the initiation of the claim, but we always advise you beforehand and in a won case we will always reimburse these costs.
If you wish to discuss a medical negligence claim, please call our confidential UK helpline free now on 0800 10 757 95 or you can request a more convenient time when we can call you back. Alternatively, fill in the online claim form and we will look into your claim before we call you to discuss it further. Above all, at YouClaim we are here to help.
