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Anna’s* son Samuel died when he was just eight days old. Samuel and 

his twin brother, Thomas, were born three weeks premature and were 

incubated in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Samuel was in a good 

condition at birth. 

Both boys were fitted with a total parenteral nutrition line (TPN) - a 

long line into the heart through which the brothers were ‘fed’ the 

nutrients they needed. If a baby with a long line suddenly deteriorates 

it is standard and expected procedure, outlined in the Department 

of Health’s guidelines, for the possibility of a condition called cardiac 

tamponade (compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid) to 

be considered and investigated.

But medics failed to diagnose and treat cardiac tamponade in Samuel 

quickly enough to save him. A simple procedure to relieve the pressure 

around his heart would have saved him. It was later discovered that the 

cardiac tamponade had been caused by the TPN line being positioned 

incorrectly.

As Samuel deteriorated, his parents were contacted and told that he 

had taken a turn for the worse and they rushed to his bedside. On 

arrival, they were greeted by the sight of their son undergoing the 

resuscitation procedure, a doctor shaking his head, and flatlines on a 

heart monitor. Anna says a nurse told them that “these things happen”. 

Another doctor produced three syringes of ‘milky and bloody’ fluid, 

taken from Samuel’s body, while Anna and Samuel’s father looked 

on. Following Samuel’s death, his parents continued to visit his twin 

Thomas in the same intensive care ward, next to Samuel’s now-empty 

cot. Anna suffered significant psychiatric damage from the trauma.

Invisible harm

Psychiatric damage

Breakdown 

of damages

Anna had a top-level management job with an international 

corporation, which she lost as a result of her psychiatric injuries. 

She re-experiences the trauma of Samuel’s death both mentally 

and physically. Psychiatric harm manifests itself in victims in various 

forms, including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, emotional 

detachment, and dissociative amnesia. 

Experts involved in the case agreed that while Anna still has the 

potential to work, but positions which demand high levels of pressure, 

stress, decision making and/or confrontation are grossly inadvisable 

because of her psychiatric damage.   

*Name changed to maintain confidentiality

General damages for 

pain, suffering and 

loss of amenity

Past losses (up until 

the trial)

Future losses

Special damages:

£41,075

£118,682

£366,139

Total compensation

£525,896