Rhodes v Spokes

(1996) 7 Med LR 135

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and Mrs Justice SMITH

Professional liability — General practitioner — Diagnosis — Referral — Letter of referral — General practitioner's failure to suspect true nature of patient's illness although aware that patient had intracranial shunt — Failure to refer patient to neurologist — Importance of doctor's contemporaneous record of consultation — Failure to inform neurologist that patient had intracranial shunt — Effect of delay — Professional liability — Neurosurgeon Examination — Letter of referral not advising that patient fitted with intracranial shunt — Neurosurgeon not keeping open mind and not asking usual questions — Failure to refer patient for CT scan — Effect of delay