Truro Lawyers Secure £5m Settlement in Medical Negligence Case

Truro-based lawyers have secured a £5 million settlement for a woman left effectively blind in her 30s following a delayed tumour diagnosis.

Medical negligence specialists at Enable Law acted for the woman, known as Diana, whose sight was severely impacted after a consultant failed to identify a tumour compressing her optic nerve.

Missed Diagnosis With Lasting Impact

Diana first noticed blurred vision in her right eye and visited a High Street optician, who referred her to hospital. However, a consultant did not identify the tumour affecting her optic nerve.

Although the tumour was not cancerous, it required urgent surgery to relieve pressure and prevent sight loss. According to Enable Law, the delay meant the opportunity to preserve vision in her right eye was missed.

Despite eventually undergoing surgery, Diana permanently lost vision in her right eye.

Second Tumour Discovered Too Late

After adapting to life with sight in one eye, Diana later began experiencing blurred vision in her left eye. Further tests revealed a second tumour on the left optic nerve.

Her condition worsened, leaving her with no useful vision in either eye. A later review of earlier scans showed the second tumour had been present for some time but had not been identified.

Enable Law argued that while missing the second tumour was not considered negligent, the earlier delay significantly worsened the outcome. The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust admitted liability for failing to diagnose and treat the first tumour in time.

It was accepted that earlier surgery would likely have preserved vision in Diana’s right eye, meaning she would still have had sight in one eye when the second tumour affected the other.

📷Enable Law partner Mike Bird

Complex Case Secures Lifelong Support

Enable Law partner Mike Bird and associate Katy Wood worked closely with Diana, gathering expert medical evidence to assess the full impact of the delayed diagnosis.

Mike said: “Our client is a remarkably brave person whose world has been turned upside down due to human error and she turned to Enable Law for help because she rightly wanted justice.

“Her heartbreaking journey has been a powerful source of motivation for me and my team and in what has been an extremely complex and moving case, we have secured our client a lifelong £5-million settlement that gives her peace of mind so she can re-build her life.

“We know that no amount of money can ever make up for the devastation of someone so young losing their eyesight and this settlement reflects the severity of the harm caused and the significant care and support she will require for the rest of her life.”

Katy added: “Sadly, this case is a very distressing reminder that medical negligence can have catastrophic consequences such as blindness and that has been very difficult for our client to take.

“It has been an extremely traumatic time for our client. She may never come to terms with losing her independence, not seeing friends and family and everything that makes life so special. However, she is ready to start a new chapter and move forward as best as she can with the right care and support in place.

“But above all, our client and everyone who has supported her at Enable Law sincerely hope vital lessons are learned by health authorities across the country by our client’s devastating case and its entirely avoidable outcome.”

Life After Sight Loss

Diana now lives with severe, permanent bilateral visual impairment. She has no sight in her right eye and less than five per cent functional vision in her left, and has been registered as severely sight impaired.

Her condition affects her ability to move safely, with impaired depth perception making walking difficult and potentially dangerous. She is unable to travel independently and experiences significant social isolation.

Everyday activities such as cooking, reading, watching television, socialising and exercising have become extremely challenging.

Before her diagnosis, Diana worked in the care sector. Her sight loss has made it impossible to return to her role, resulting in a loss of earnings and career fulfilment.

📷Enable Law associate Katy Wood

Settlement Supports Future Care

The settlement includes a lump sum to allow Diana to purchase and adapt a home, along with annual inflation-linked payments for the rest of her life to fund ongoing care and support.

Her home has been adapted with voice-activated technology, tactile labels and smart lighting to help maintain her independence. She also receives support from carers and rehabilitation services.

Following the outcome, Diana said: “They have been worth their weight in gold to me in terms of legal and emotional support. Mike and Katy have always been there when I have needed them and they will always have a place in my heart.”