El-Morssy v Bristol & District Health Authority

(1996) 7 Med LR 232

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and Mr Justice TURNER

Professional liability — Orthopaedics — Diagnosis — Patient presenting with, inter alia, back pain — Administration of epidural anaesthetic and cortico-steroid by means of in-dwelling epidural catheter — Patient later found to be suffering from syringomyelia due to infection by staphylococcus aureus — Whether infection could have been caused by epidural procedure — Whether orthopaedic surgeon negligent in relying on examination of his house officer — Professional liability — Anaesthetist — Procedure — Administration of epidural anaesthetic and cortico-steroid by means of in-dwelling epidural catheter — Patient suffering from syringomyelia due to infection by staphylococcus aureus - Whether patient ever had pyogenic infection in epidural space which resulted from epidural procedure performed by anaesthetist