Anaesthetist absent as patient’s heart stopped Five-figure payout for man after medic left operating theatre
ADUDLEY man has won a five-figure pay out after he suffered a cardiac arrest and needed CPR when an anaesthetist left the operating theatre during his surgery.
Adam Bennett was undergoing routine urology surgery at Russells Hall Hospital in April 2015 when he was left unattended by the anaesthetist for two minutes.
But in that time the 48-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and the procedure had to be abandoned.
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust launched an investigation following the drama and the doctor involved placed on restricted practice.
Mr Bennett instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell who claimed that if the anaesthetist had been present at the time of his cardiac arrest, then drugs could have been administered which may have meant surgery could have continued as planned.
“After the incident I was told what had happened and how the anaesthetist was not present in the theatre,” said Mr Bennett.
“I honestly could not believe it – you put a huge amount of faith in the doctors treating you, so I was completely shocked to hear what had happened. If everything had gone to plan I should have been out of hospital that day, but instead I needed days in hospital to recover and then also another procedure booked in for July.
“Because of what I’d been through, I got very worried ahead of that operation and while all went well it was a very stressful time.
“While I am happy to have got a settlement regarding what happened, this was always about more than money for me.
“Safety has to always come first and the issues I suffered cannot be allowed to happen again. Lessons have to be learned.”
While Mr Bennett was under general anaesthetic, his heart rate became irregular and he went on to have a cardiac arrest.
His lawyer Ashley Cocker, from Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office added: “Anyone undergoing surgery expects that they will get the best possible standard of care, so the circumstances of this case are very worrying.
“While we are pleased to have helped our client achieve a settlement, it is absolutely vital that everything possible is done to learn lessons from what happened to him. This cannot be allowed to happen again.”
Diane Wake, chief executive of Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, apologised to Mr Bennett and said the matter had been referred to the General Medical Council.
She said: “We accept that the temporary absence of the anaesthetist during Adam Bennett’s procedure was inexcusable and that if he had been present the situation would have been managed differently.
“During our investigation into the incident, the anaesthetist was placed on restricted practice and referred to the General Medical Council. We would like to apologise to Mr Bennett for any distress caused.”
I honestly could not believe it – you put a huge amount of faith in the doctors treating you Adam Bennett