A widower pursued a case in relation to his late wife who had suffered a perforated gastric ulcer leading to acute peritonitis and the need for emergency surgery. The lady deteriorated and the following year needed surgery on a hernia caused by the first surgery.

She deteriorated further following the second operation and sadly died. Investigation revealed criticisms of the fact that Diclofenac had been prescribed for a long period of time without a drug to protect her stomach such as Omeprazole. This was particularly unwise due to the age of the patient who was in her 70s.

A considerably amount of pain and suffering was attributed to the GP’s failure in the build up to the death. The Defendant denied liability but settlement was eventually agreed in the sum of £40,000.