I should have mentioned that I have reviewed the medical records. The consultant requested that a member of the gynae team attended her bedside and conduct a review. Pelvic inflammatory disease is a clinical diagnosis based on history and symptoms. She was clinically consistent with a PID. The consultant was a general surgeon, he requested the gynae symptoms to be reviewed by the respective specialist.

Problem was the hospital was super busy and had a new rotation of first year med graduates covering the ward. They were tasked with actioning the consultants plan. Essentially it was the ward FY1's who were supposed to ensure these tasks were done, but ultimately the duty of care lies with the consultant. Whether he was run off his feet and relied on these simple tasks being completed by the FY1's or he simply made a mistake the onus is on him.

Such mistakes really don't happen in the real world so my GP told me, and are somewhat akin to a never event.

My cousin, thankfully documented asking for the vaginal examination on numerous occassions to her partner, myself and her mother where we all acted as advocates, calling the ward and pressuring ward staff as to when she would be examined by a gynaecologist. She was told by a "no exam today, just swabs". This was documented in messages to and from her and the family.

Gynea is a 24/7 on call service and they review patients in general surgery wards all day and night. Oddly my cousin was simply missed. Its wasn't intentional, just a terrible accident, but nonetheless breach of duty.

I get the causation dilemma but we have strong evidence to show that she would have almost certainly made a complete, uneventful recovery had she been seen by a gynaecologist and treated online with hospital guidelines. Peer reviewed best-practice studies corroborated this of which I have an extensive list to offer.