A year after the death of her husband, Philip Morris, Dana Morris is taking legal action against Spire Healthcare, the private healthcare firm responsible for his surgery. Philip died in 2021, four days after a gastric sleeve procedure at Spire St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey. A coroner found that he likely would have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor had been functioning properly during the surgery. While Mrs. Morris received interim compensation payments, she is now pursuing a full settlement in the High Court, alleging substandard treatment by the hospital and the medical professionals involved.
The widow of a 48-year-old man who died after weight loss surgery is taking legal action against the private healthcare firm which carried out the operation. Philip Morris died in 2021, four days after part of his stomach was removed during a gastric sleeve procedure at the Spire St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey. In February 2024, a coroner concluded he probably would have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor was working correctly.
Mr Morris' widow, Dana, received two interim compensation payments from Spire Healthcare last year, but is now taking the company to the High Court. Mrs Morris, 49, said Spire's reluctance to accept full liability and agree a financial settlement had 'prolonged their nightmare' and caused 'further unnecessary grief'. 'We definitely can't move on to kind of whatever grieving could look like,' she said, adding: 'I don't feel like we've even started that process.' Court papers obtained by BBC Wales allege substandard treatment by Spire Healthcare as well as medics involved in Mr Morris' surgery and aftercare.Mr Morris, from Newport, was a founding member of Wales Arts Review and was its managing director from 2012 to 2016.Mr Morris - who weighed 22 stone, had type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea - elected for private surgery due to long NHS waits following the Covid-19 pandemic.Following the surgery, Mr Morris experienced severe abdominal pain which left him struggling to talk and breathe. He was placed in the intensive care unit of the private hospital where a decision was made to intubate him before moving him to an NHS hospital. A four-day inquest in Croydon in February 2024 heard the procedure was found to be 'extremely difficult' and that his 'airway was lost'. Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said there was a 'missed opportunity' to try to create a new airway because a carbon dioxide monitoring device was not working correctly. She found that 'no-one checked that this piece of equipment was working' because it was not any individual's responsibility to check. In a narrative conclusion, the coroner found Mr Morris died after 'suffering complications of an emergency procedure carried out in turn to treat complications of post bariatric surgery'.A coroner concluded that Mr Morris would probably have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor was working correctly. A year on, Mr Morris' widow and their son Orson, 15, have been diagnosed with PTSD and Orson continues to require counselling.'It's not right that he went in to improve his health and if things had gone to plan what life would be like now.' 'Spire's mistakes cost Phil his life and we will forever suffer those consequences. Lessons must be learned so this never happens to any other family,' she added. Spire Healthcare said it was unable to comment on specific details, due to ongoing legal proceedings. But in a statement the company said: 'We apologise for the distress caused by Mr Morris' death and can confirm that Mrs Morris' claims are being responded to through the appropriate legal channels.
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PRIVATE HOSPITAL LEGAL ACTION COMPLICATION CORONER INVESTIGATION
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How Zyn helped Philip Morris International make a comebackPhilip Morris is investing more than $800 million to expand production in the U.S. as Zyn’s popularity soars.
Read more »
Mother of Baby Who Died in Hospital Says Hospital 'Dishonesty' Led Her to Suicide AttemptThe mother of an eight-week-old baby boy who died in hospital after a 'catalogue of failures', says the 'dishonesty' of the trust involved led to her trying to take her own life. Jenny Condon, 43, said: 'It's destroyed me as a person, my mental health, it's constantly having to relive that day over and over.'
Read more »
Spire Motorsports Didn't Renew Partnership with Rev RacingSpire Motorsports, which provided equipment and personnel to REV Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series through a partnership in 2024, opted to not renew the deal for the 2025 season. Spire will instead field four trucks itself in 2025.
Read more »
NASCAR: Spire Motorsports Announces Huge New Multi-Year Sponsorship DealSpire Motorsports has secured a multi-year sponsorship deal with Workforce.
Read more »
New £24.3m Walsall mental health unit opens for adultsAs Bloxwich Hospital closes for good, services are moved to Dorothy Pattinson Hospital in Walsall.
Read more »
Cleveland State visits Woods and Robert MorrisRobert Morris hosts the Cleveland State Vikings after Kam Woods scored 29 points in Robert Morris' 79-71 victory against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. The teams play Wednesday for the first time this season. Robert Morris is 2-3 against the Horizon League, and Cleveland State is 4-1 against conference opponents.
Read more »