An identical twin girl, born seriously brain damaged at a British hospital, yesterday won a £1.4 million compensation settlement.
Carole Brennan, who now lives with her family in Dublin, was delivered just before her healthy twin sister, Shona, at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in April 1996, London's High Court heard. A short period of profound oxygen starvation left her blind, epileptic and a victim of quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She relies totally on others for all activities.
Carole, who also has two younger siblings, sued the hospital's managers, the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, through her father, Mr Pat Brennan, who was in court. Without making any admission of liability, the trust agreed to settle the case for £1.4 million.
Carole's counsel, Mr Adrian Whitfield QC, said she is so gravely handicapped that her life expectancy is estimated at about 20 years. He said much of the settlement would be needed to buy a family home in Dublin where property prices had rocketed.
Mr Justice Buckley said he had "no hesitation" in approving the settlement and expressed the court's sympathy to Carole and her parents, wishing them all the best for the future.
The family's solicitor, Mr Adrian Desmond, said later: "The major components of the claim are for constant care, equipment and specialised accommodation that Carole requires."
Mr Brennan said: "Heartbreak is the only word that can describe our feelings at the loss Carole has suffered and her inability to lead a normal healthy and happy childhood. We are pleased to have secured this award, which is for Carole and will help us provide for her complex care needs, equipment and therapy now and in the future. In a statement the NHS Trust said: "The trust is pleased that it was possible to agree a sum of damages that will both secure Carole's future and ensure that she fulfils her potential."