Lawyer
LawyerWe have recently acted for a number of children who have suffered serious and life threatening conditions as a result of misdiagnosis of inflammatory illnesses. This resulted in a delay in our clients receiving the appropriate treatment and left them with permanent injuries.
One common inflammatory condition is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (‘JIA’). JIA is the most common type of arthritis that affects children. It causes the immune system, which is supposed to fight invaders like germs and viruses, to turn on and attack the body’s cells and tissues. This causes the body to release inflammatory chemicals that attack the tissue lining around a joint. This can make joints feel tender or painful and appear red or swollen. The body will often then produce fluid around the joints to try and cushion them and help them move smoothly.
The following is a story of one of our clients who almost lost his life as a result of misdiagnosis of JIA.
Caleb’s Story
Caleb was a boy who developed tenderness and swelling in his shoulder which was initially thought to be an insect bite. He was treated with antihistamines. However, the symptoms did not go away. It was later thought that he was suffering from osteomyelitis – a bone infection. He was treated with IV antibiotics for six (6) weeks but his symptoms continued to get worse.
Caleb’s doctors performed scans and discovered a fluid collection in his shoulder. A washout procedure was performed and fluid and blood samples were taken. However, cultures and pathology were not suggestive of an infection. His doctors thought that perhaps he had an infection caused by a very resistant organism so they broadened his IV antibiotic regime but Caleb’s condition did not improve. Unfortunately, they did not consider that Caleb was suffering from an inflammatory condition.
Soon Caleb’s pain began spreading to his neck, his arm and his knee. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he developed high fevers, tachycardia, coagulopathy, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, pleural and pericardial effusions and multiorgan and respiratory failure. He was transferred to a tertiary paediatric hospital where he was diagnosed with JIA which had developed into Macrophage Activation Syndrome – a life-threatening condition caused by systemic inflammatory disorders including JIA.
Caleb was ventilated and intubated and appropriately treated with anti-inflammatory medications. He required a prolonged period of intensive treatment and rehabilitation. He was lucky to survive without any permanent injuries.
Caleb’s Settlement
Our specialist medical negligence lawyers acted for Caleb and were successful in obtaining compensation for him. We were also able to negotiate a settlement for Caleb’s mother for the psychological trauma she suffered as a result of her son’s near-death experience.
If you or a loved one have been adversely impacted by a misdiagnosis, there are avenues for redress. Our team of expert personal injury lawyers would be pleased to meet with you to discuss your options. You can either book an appointment online or call us on (02) 4050 0330 for an obligation-free consultation.
