Mum of Five Dies after NHS Fails To Diagnose Abnormal Pregnancy

A man is considering taking legal action against an NHS hospital following the death of his partner who died from a heart attack during an operation following an abnormal pregnancy, which the NHS doctors failed to diagnose.

The man believes that his partner died after doctors at Rotherham Hospital failed to diagnose her condition of molar pregnancy after she suffered a miscarriage.

On 30 April 2008, it was confirmed that the man's partner, a 25 year old mother of five from Dalton, Rotherham, had suffered a miscarriage following an ultrasound examination.

However, she returned to the hospital on two occasions throughout the following month stating that she was bleeding and feeling unwell yet was discharged both times.

She then collapsed on the 26 May 2008 while heading home after spending a Bank Holiday weekend with her partner and five children.

She was admitted to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire where she underwent an emergency operation to remove 'products of conception' from her womb after doctors at Rotherham Hospital failed to diagnose her molar pregnancy.

However, she suffered from a heart attack during the process of her operation which left her unconscious as she suffered brain damage due to the lack of oxygen.

She did not regain consciousness and died a week later.

Her partner is now considering to seek compensation for medical negligence stating that the "fact this abnormal pregnancy went undiagnosed suggests her death might have been avoidable."

He said: "This tragedy has robbed my children of their mother and has taken away my partner and my best friend.

I want to hold to account those I believe are responsible and to ensure no other family has to go through what we've been through these last few months," he added.

He has now had to give up his job in order to care for their five children aged two, three, five and six.

Medical negligence specialist, Lisa Mann said: "This has been a very difficult year for [the father] and the children."

She stated that the woman had been admitted to hospital on two occasions yet was discharged both times due to negligence.

Mann stated that the doctors at Rotherham Hospital chose to "pursue a conservative course of treatment."

Miss Maureen Taylor, Spalding coroner delivering the narrative verdict stated that the woman had died of natural causes as a result of the complications of her undiagnosed molar pregnancy.

Mann stated that she will investigate the issue on behalf of her client.

She said: "We hoped the inquest would answer some difficult questions about what happened to [the woman].

The Coroner's verdict was expected by us but we do feel there are still some questions yet to be answered."

She stated that the father "is anxious that we pursue further investigations about the circumstances surrounding [the woman's] death."

If you or a member of your family have been affected by medical negligence speak to one of our injury lawyers to see if you can make a claim.