Gould v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2017] NSWDC 67

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gould v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2017] NSWDC 67 Hearing dates: 15, 16, 17, 19 and 26 February, 19 October, 7 and 16 November 2016, (close of submissions 5 December 2016) Date of orders: 30 March 2017 Decision date: 30 March 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $240,930.10;

2. The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis until 18 December 2015, and on the indemnity basis thereafter;

3. The exhibits may be returned;

4. Liberty to apply on 7 days' notice if further or other orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – public hospital – emergency medical and surgical treatment of severe thumb injury in 8 year old child – development of infection and gangrene resulting in surgical amputation of tip of thumb – whether breach of duty of care arising from delayed surgical irrigation, exploration and repair of wound – whether breach of duty of care arising from choice of particular antibiotic therapy and post-operative care – consideration of conflicting expert opinions – consideration of rationality of opinions basing defence claimed pursuant to s 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 – consideration of claimed defence of novus actus interveniens – whether causation established; DAMAGES – assessment of claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1987, s 21 Civil Liability Act 2002, Pt 1A, Pt 5, s 5B, s 5C, s 5D, s 5E, s 5O, s 13, s 16, s 42 Evidence Act 1995, s 60 Cases Cited: Adelaide Stevedoring Co Ltd v Forst [1940] HCA 45; (1940) 64 CLR 538 Ainsworth v Ainsworth [2002] NSWCA 130 Albrighton v Royal Prince Alfred Hospital [1980] 2 NSWLR 542 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Bonitto v Fuerst Bros & Co Ltd [1944] AC 75 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Cupac v Cannone [2015] NSWCA 114 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 243 CLR 588 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Dobler v Halvorsen [2007] NSWCA 335; (2007) 70 NSWLR 151 Glen v Sullivan [2015] NSWCA 191 HG v The Queen [1999] HCA 2; (1999) 197 CLR 414 Hope v Hunter and New England Area Health Service [2009] NSWDC 307 Hunter and New England and Local Health District v McKenna [2014] HCA 44 Larson v Commissioner of Police [2004] NSWCA 126 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; (1952) 85 CLR 352 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 37; (1985) 156 CLR 522 Majkic v Bonnano [2008] NSWCA 253 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; (1990) 169 CLR 638 Manly Municipal Council v Skene [2002] NSWCA 385 Melchior and Ors v Sydney Adventist Hospital Ltd and Anor [2008] NSWSC 1282 Moage Ltd (in liq) v Jagelman [1998] 153 ALR 711 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58; (1992) 175 CLR 479 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; (2001) 205 CLR 434 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Solomons v Pallier [2015] NSWCA 266 St Clair v Timtalla Pty Ltd and Anor (No 2) [2010] QSC 480 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133, (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Strinic v Singh [2009] NSWCA 15; [2009] 72 NSWLR 419 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5, (2012) 246 CLR 182 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19, (2013) 250 CLR 375 Texts Cited: Concise Oxford Dictionary, 8th ed (1990) RB Gustilo and JT Anderson, "Prevention of Infection in the Treatment of One Thousand and Twenty-Five Open Fractures of Long Bones : Retrospective and Prospective Analyses", American Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: 1976 Hull et al, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, March 2014 Ibrahim T, et al, "Delayed surgical debridement in paediatric open fractures : systematic review and meta-analysis", Journal of Child Orthopaedics (2014) New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed (reprinted 1993) Macquarie Dictionary, 6th ed (2013) Skaggs, et al, "The Effect of Surgical Delay on Acute Infection Following 554 Open Fractures in Children", DL Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Jan 2005 Therapeutic Guidelines – Antibiotics (2010) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Gould by his tutor Carol Anne Gould (Plaintiff) South Western Sydney Local Health District (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Dr SC Thornton (Plaintiff) Mr RJA Sergi (Defendant)