Teen seeks £1m for hospital blunder

Aug 10 2007 By Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

A BOY brought back from the dead by doctors days after they failed to spot he had diabetes is set to win a pay out of up to £1 million.

Shaun Price, of Hartopp Road, Alum Rock, suffered a heart attack and kidney failure that left him in a coma for six weeks in 2004.

Just days earlier doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital had sent the 15-year-old home after he came in complaining of agonising chest pains.

After pulling through his ordeal, Shaun had to have his lungs drained twice and an operation on his head to relieve pressure from an ulcer.

He is still waiting to have two hip replacements and struggles to walk. He has permanent scars on his legs after his muscles began to waste away while he was in the coma.

Doctors now believe he may have suffered brain damage as well.

Now 18, Shaun is trying to persuade his solicitors to settle his claim against Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Shaun, who is looked after by his brother-in-law Haroon Bashir, said: "The hospital has apologised to me and they have admitted it was their fault. But it has been three years now and I have not seen a penny from them.

"I used to play football at school and I loved to go swimming and rock climbing but I can't do any of that anymore.

"My sister and brother have looked after me for two years now and I want them to get in touch with the hospital and deal with them directly. I don't want massive amounts of money, just enough to compensate for my physical pain since it all happened."

Examinations by medical specialists showed that Shaun could be in line for a pay out of between £500,000 and £1 million.

A spokesman for Birmingham Children's Hospital said: "This matter is still the subject of legal proceedings. The Official Solicitor has been appointed to act on ShaunÕs behalf and we are seeking to establish contact with the Official Solicitor."