Cristina Malcolm from Durham collapsed with a headache in 2002 but was diagnosed with a virus, and later suffered a more serious haemorrhage. The 41-year-old now needs round-the-clock care from husband Sandy.
Two hospital trusts and her then-GP, Dr James Harrison, have apologised for the failings. After the second haemorrhage, Mrs Malcolm was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital where she underwent life-saving surgery to remove half a litre of blood from her brain.
She was left permanently brain-damaged and unable to remember anything for more than 10 minutes. Mr Malcolm, who describes his wife as being like "a 10-year-old child with Alzheimer's", said the couple had to abandon their dream of having children.
He launched a compensation claim for gross clinical negligence against Dr Harrison of Chevely Park Medical Centre in Durham, Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
