Compensation for Patient with Latex Allergy

Latex allergies have become increasingly common amongst people who have to wear gloves at work for health and safety reasons. The allergy is caused by the body becoming hypersensitive to proteins naturally present in latex and over-reacting to their presence. It is estimated that latex intolerance now affects between one and six per cent of the population.

A former hairdresser whose life was put at risk when she went into latex-induced anaphylactic shock whilst in hospital has won compensation for the damage caused to her health.

The unnamed woman, 38, was admitted to hospital to undergo a routine sterilisation operation. The hospital was aware that she had a latex allergy and, following the successful operation, had placed her in a private room with a red alert wristband to indicate that she had a known allergy. There was no warning sign over her bed, however, and a box of latex gloves was left in her room.

When a nurse tried to examine her wearing latex gloves, the woman reminded her about her allergy and so the nurse went to fetch a pair of latex-free gloves.

A short time later, the woman was in the hospital lift, returning from making a phone call to her husband, when she went into anaphylactic shock. She was left fighting for her life in intensive care for two weeks.

Before the incident she was fit and healthy, but she now suffers with fibromyalgia and chronic regional pain syndrome, and has severe asthma. As a result, she has spent several periods in intensive care in the last few years and is unable to work. The debilitating effects of her condition also mean that she is often unable to care for her two young children or take them to school.

The Hospital Trust involved denied liability for the woman’s injuries but settled her compensation claim out of court.

Further information on latex allergies can be found on the website of the Health and Safety Executive.