Rachel Gibson very sadly passed away as a result of being given an excessive amount of Ropivacaine during hip surgery which should have been diluted with saline before being infiltrated and wasn’t.
The mistake happened at Spire Lea Hospital in Cambridge in April 2022 and at a recent inquest the coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report to the Royal College of Anaesthetists ( RCOA) stating that sometimes the drug was specified in millilitres rather than milligrams and this increased the risk of mistakes.
The coroner said that the evidence suggested that this type of practice is common nationally and that there is a wide variation in the way that local anaesthetic is prescribed, checked and administered in this type of procedure.
Sarah Harper, clinical negligence specialist from Shoosmiths Serious Injury says:
“I am shocked and saddened to hear of this case, I would think that few would perceive that such a tragedy could be caused by what would seem to be a harmless drug given in routine surgery. It is right that the coroner has brought this to the public’s attention and has issued a prevention of future deaths report, in the interests of patient safety.
It is inconceivable that something as simple as incorrect measurements should be happening in this day and age, and I hope the coroner’s actions will prevent another tragedy occurring.
We regularly act for clients who have been injured by prescription errors, but to think that these cases are not “one offs” and that the practice is occurring regularly during routine surgery is appalling.”
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2025
