£25,000 obtained for inappropriate breast reconstruction following a mastectomy

Julie Crossley, a medical negligence lawyer at Ashtons Legal, has obtained £25,000 for a lady who suffered inappropriate breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.

Ms S underwent a mastectomy due to breast cancer and wished to have breast reconstruction surgery. Initially the reconstruction surgery was delayed as it was feared Ms S would require radiotherapy. It later became apparent that a tumour the size of hers would not normally be treated in this way and the delay was unnecessary.

When Ms S attended her consultation regarding breast reconstruction options, she was told what type of reconstruction she would be having rather than being given a choice. She should have been offered the option of a more appropriate procedure which uses fat and muscle from the stomach. Ms S healed badly from the surgery and suffered scarring; she then required further surgery.

Thirteen months after the reconstruction surgery and post-surgery complications, Ms S was referred to a new consultant who fully explained the different types of breast reconstruction, which included the best and most appropriate option for Ms S. Some three and a half years after her mastectomy, Ms S finally underwent a successful reconstruction surgery and began her recovery.

Julie Crossley comments “Unfortunately many of our cases are a result of a poor consent procedure where patients have not been properly informed of their options and the likely consequences or complications of surgery. In this case there were problems with both the consent process and the delay in treatment, which led to a longer recovery period for the patient.”