Decision Report 201804414

Summary

Ms C complained about the treatment she received at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Ms C had a contraceptive device fitted and a number of months later she developed a number of symptoms including body aches, severe period pain, headaches and joint pain. Ms C only has one fallopian tube (either of a pair of tubes along which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus) and understood that the device should not have been fitted in patients with only one fallopian tube. Ms C complained about this and that she was not given anaesthetic during the procedure.

We took independent advice from a consultant gynaecologist (a doctor who specialises in the female reproductive system). We found that although the information about the device does caution against patients with only one fallopian tube, it does not give specific reasons why this is so. There was no clinical reason why the device could not be used in Ms C's circumstances. We also found that adequate consent was obtained along with an explanation of the possible side effects which could be encountered. There was also no requirement for an anaesthetic as it was not a surgical procedure. Therefore, we did not uphold Ms  C's complaint.