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Catheter Error Leads to Stroke in Young Woman
29 Oct
Summary
- Catheter mistakenly inserted into artery instead of vein.
- Medication delivered to brain caused stroke in 32-year-old.
- Hospital trust agrees to six-figure settlement for damages.
A hospital trust has paid a six-figure settlement to a woman who suffered a stroke due to a medical error during her Covid-19 treatment. In February 2021, a catheter was incorrectly placed into an artery instead of a vein at Whiston Hospital.
This misplacement led to emergency medication being delivered directly to the brain, causing a stroke in the then 32-year-old woman. The error remained undetected for four days until scans revealed damage to her brain.
The mother-of-one experienced lasting effects, including impaired vision and leg weakness. The Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has issued a sincere apology, stating that lessons have been learned and integrated into clinical practice.
