Doctor is found negligent over death of patient

THE family of a man who died from a heart attack have been awarded damages from a ‘negligent’ doctor who failed to properly diagnose his health problems.

Relatives of William Brown sued Dr Alison Smith and her fellow GPs at the Craig Nevis Surgery in Fort William, Inverness-shire, after their loved one passed away on January 6, 2011.

Mr Brown’s wife Euphemia, 70, his children and his brother and sister claimed in the Court of Session that Dr Smith failed to diagnose that he was suffering from unstable angina when he attended at her practice on December 31, 2010.

The family also claimed that Dr Smith failed to refer Mr Brown to hospital on that day and failed to prescribe drugs which would have helped his condition.

In a written judgment issued yesterday, judge Lord Armstrong ruled in favour of the family. He concluded that Dr Smith failed to act properly in her dealings with Mr Brown.

He wrote: ‘I find that Dr Smith was professionally negligent and breached the duties of care, in

‘Denied protection of hospital admission’

that she failed to diagnose unstable angina, failed to refer him immediately to hospital and failed to prescribe the medication appropriate for a diagnosis of stable angina.

‘I am satisfied, that these failures were materially causative of death.

‘I find in addition, that in any event, if the fatal cardiac event on Thursday January 6, 2011 was caused by exposure to the cold, her failures were responsible for him being denied the protection from such exposure which admission to hospital would have provided.’

The exact sum awarded to the family has not been disclosed.

The judgment tells how Mr Brown, 67, from Caol, Lochaber, had enjoyed good health and was keen on playing golf and cycling.

Lord Armstrong wrote that he considered evidence from medical experts and had concluded Dr Smith failed to follow medical guidelines.

He wrote: ‘If, on Friday, December 31, 2010, Dr Smith had prescribed beta blockers or an appropriate alternative, the deceased would have had the benefit of their anti-ischaemic effect.’