Surgery ban for grandad who won £30k payout over wife's death
GRIEVING Martin Howell has been banned from a doctors' surgery – days after winning a £30,000 payout following his wife's death.
Trucker Martin received the out-of-court settlement two years after his wife Irene died from a heart condition despite being diagnosed with bronchitis by her GP.
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'Penalised': Martin Howell
The doctor at the centre of the row has since retired and no longer works at Meir Health Centre.
But Martin – who has moved back to Park Hall after briefly living in Goldenhill – was stunned to be told he cannot re-register with the Saracen Way practice because of the dispute.
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His appeal to Stoke-on-Trent's NHS was rejected over the weekend.
In a letter the surgery said: "Your relationship with the practice, as a result of the action taken against us, has broken down."
The 60-year-old said: "I'm being penalised for complaining about a doctor who I blame for my wife's death.
"It is absolutely disgusting. These doctors are employed with taxpayers' money and they can just pick and choose who they want."
Irene was first diagnosed with a heart problem at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in 2008.
Two years later the grandmother-of-one started suffering breathing problems and water blisters on her legs.
But Martin said Doctor HL Verma kept prescribing Irene antibiotics after saying she had bronchitis.
Martin eventually saw a different doctor at the same practice who sent Irene to the University Hospital where she died within hours.
Father-of-two Martin, of Delaney Drive, added: "I thought they would just give her some drugs and after a couple of days she would be back home.
"By 2am, I had to make the awful decision to turn off her life-support machine.
"It was never about the money. I just wanted it to be recognised that something had gone terribly wrong."
The couple were married for 39 years after living opposite each other in their teens.
Part of the pay-out has been split between sons Steven, aged 34, and Mark, aged 31, of Blythe Bridge.
The NHS confirmed Dr Verma is no longer registered as a GP.
A spokesman for the Staffordshire Cluster of PCTs said: "Dr Verma retired and removed his name from the General Medical Council Register so he can no longer practice."
The practice declined to comment on the payout and the surgery ban.
Dr HL Verma was unavailable for comment.
Comments
by DoctorDo
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 8:50PM
“I'm sorry mole10 but in the ECHR which I've seen Article 21 sets out the criteria for office for the judges in the European Court of Human Rights, and Article 35 deals with the admissibility criteria of cases being brought before the court.
I didn't see discrimination or healthcare mentioned at all.”
by THETROJON
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 6:11PM
“It was never about the money. I just wanted it to be recognised that something had gone terribly wrong." but i will have 30k out of the public purse anyway
Then why did you chase the surgery for compo? why not give the cash to the douglas mac or donna louise trust. the doctor' surgery could not be that bad if you wanted to go back to them enough said .....”
by purpleme
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 3:32PM
“Why would anyone want to re register at a doctors surgery that they blame for a relatives mis diagnosis and ultimately their death, regardless of whether the GP in question had left or not I would rather register elsewhere.”
by BECKIEBOO16
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 3:27PM
“The same thing happened to my Mum, wrong medication was prescribed and she was really ill. You are best just getting a new practice Mr Howell, will be much safer.”
by jiggajagga
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 1:20PM
“Whenever I go to my docs about something, he picks up a book and finds out what it could be?... I could do that! You can't trust or depend on anyone these days.”
by mole10
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 12:46PM
“Possibly article 21. Non Discrimination.
His 'opinion'.
Maybe article 35. Health Care.
Right of access.
A private GP practice may think itself able to offer services to whomsover it wishes to.
Fair enough, but surely, if it accepts Government money in any way, it must be held to account for its actions and is therfore answerable to the ECHR.”
by summertime
Monday, December 03 2012, 10:23PM
“why on earth would he want to go back an be treated by the same doctor who allegedly cause the death of his wife ?? Did he expect the doctor to become his big pal or something ?”
by DoctorDo
Monday, December 03 2012, 8:34PM
“@hasod
I have every sympathy for Mr. Howell and I too think that he should be allowed to register wherever he wishes, though I can't imagine why he'd want to go near that practice again.
Just out of interest though, which article of the European Convention on Human Rights do you think this practice has breached?”
by SmellySock
Monday, December 03 2012, 8:22PM
“if he was a asian or any other type of migrant would this victimisation happen? of course not he has very few rights now being white & english thats the bottom line!”
by hasod
Monday, December 03 2012, 7:51PM
“Did the Doctor (?) retire or was he sacked in silence. I should be taken up with the Health Minister for sure . If they have vacancies its then also worth a mention to The Human Rights, or doesn't that work for white folk ?”