Claim settled against GP for chemical burns suffered during nail ablation

Posted: 26/01/2015

The clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches LLP has negotiated a settlement of a claim for a patient left with permanent scarring as a result of burns caused by his GP. 

Our client underwent a chemical nail bed ablation at his local GP surgery in order to remove an ingrown toenail. Prior to the procedure, the GP was supposed to sanitise the affected foot with a sterilising solution. However, instead of using the sanitising solution, the GP wrongly poured the Phenol acid intended to remove the nail bed directly onto our client’s foot causing severe chemical burns. 

The burns took a number of months to heal and required regular care and dressing. For most of the period our client was unable to wear any footwear which limited his day to day activities and also unable to carry out his employment. He has been left with long term residual scarring. 

Following a period of negotiation after presenting the case to the GP and his defence organisation, a settlement was reached in our client’s favour. Emma Beeson, solicitor in the clinical negligence team who dealt with the case, comments: “This appeared to be an entirely avoidable and unnecessary injury caused by a very basic error on the part of the GP. While our client has recovered damages, this does not make up for the prolonged period of suffering.”

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