Vernon v Bloomsbury Health Authority

(1995) 6 Med LR 297

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and Mr Justice TUCKER

Professional liability — Cardiology — Endocarditis — Gentamicin therapy — Ototoxicity — Risk of side effects on ear and kidneys — Defence contention that vestibular damage was caused despite due care — Whether gentamicin appropriate choice for treatment of condition — Whether dosage a proper one — Effect of manufacturer's and formulary guidelines — Whether doctors negligent in method of administration of gentamicin, duration of treatment or adequacy of monitoring of treatment — Whether burden on plaintiff to establish causation where defendants failed to plead unavoidable accident and were unable to adduce examples of cases where ototoxicity had occurred despite careful monitoring