Decision Report 201901595

Summary

Mr C complained about the lack of care which his wife (Mrs A) received from the Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy. Mrs A had suffered from chronic knee pain for a number of years and had undergone episodes of arthroscopy (surgical technique to diagnose and treat problems in the knee joint) in the past. She requested further surgery but the surgeon decided that further surgery would not be of benefit and that she should continue with conservative treatment. Mrs A asked for a second opinion and another consultant discussed Mrs A's condition with the surgeon; it was again decided to continue with conservative treatment. Mr C thought that the decision of the surgeon was unreasonable and that they had influenced the decision from the consultant.

We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon (a specialist in the treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system). We found that the decision by the surgeon not to offer further surgery was reasonable in the circumstances. If a patient still suffers from pain following repeated arthroscopic surgery, it would not be appropriate to continue with the surgical interventions when there is no notable benefit for the patient. We also found that it was not unreasonable for the consultant and the surgeon to have discussed treatment options for Mrs A and that the decision to persevere with conservative treatment was appropriate. We did not uphold the complaint.