Compensation and specialist support for patient sexually abused by Dr Stan
We helped Liam*, a former patient of Dr Iuliu Stan, claim a five-figure compensation after an invasive examination left him with anxiety and reluctance to attend medical settings.
*Name changed to protect identity
What happened to Liam?
In 2018, Liam attended A&E at the Royal Cornwall Hospital with sudden pain in his left testicle.
He was seen by the on-call trauma and orthopaedic doctor, Dr Stan. Liam was examined and advised that there were no serious issues, which was a relief to him.
However, after this, Liam was subjected to an uncomfortable and traumatising examination by Dr Stan. He recalls the examination seemed prolonged and, in his view, unnecessarily invasive.
The doctor examined both his testicles and rectum, explaining it was to rule out other serious conditions, such as prostate cancer. This came as a shock to Liam, given his young age, but he put trust in Dr Stan and didn’t want to question his judgment.
The testicular examination was repeated on multiple occasions, with Dr Stan leaving the room to retrieve warm, wet tissues to ease the process.
In total, Liam estimates that the testicular examination lasted for around 45 minutes.
After leaving the hospital, Liam confided in his girlfriend and mother, who both agreed the examinations seemed inappropriate.
It wasn’t until the news about other patients came out that Liam’s worst fears about being targeted and exploited during medical care were confirmed.
How did this impact Liam’s life?
Immediately after the examination, Liam couldn’t stop replaying the event in his mind. Each time certain moments and feelings returned, he felt anxious and distressed.
He tried throwing himself into work to avoid thinking about it, but the thoughts would still return.
Liam started avoiding medical settings and became reluctant to ask for help for routine issues. He would become nervous around doctors and worried about being put in a vulnerable position.
When Dr Stan was suspended and placed under investigation, Liam’s psychological trauma intensified.
He struggled to adjust to the reality of what happened, and his anxiety and tension started during everyday situations. Liam found he was more irritable, annoyed by little things, and constantly scanning for threats.
How did Irwin Mitchell help Liam?
Liam came to our abuse team to claim compensation for the abuse he experienced in the medical setting. Tom Fletcher, a Partner and Head of our abuse practice, supported Liam with his claim.
Tom started by requesting and reviewing Liam’s medical records. From there, he instructed an independent expert psychiatrist to determine the impacts of Dr Stan’s actions and Liam’s future psychological needs.
The independent psychiatrist diagnosed Liam with generalised anxiety disorder and PTSD. These continue to impact his ability to engage with healthcare.
From that, the psychiatrist determined it was suitable for Liam to use private healthcare. This would allow him to choose his medical care and would give him a feeling of control over the situation.
It was also recommended that Liam has at least 20 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), with another 20 potentially needed over his life.
When presenting Dr Stan’s legal team with Liam’s claim, Tom made sure the compensation amount included:
- Private healthcare costs for the next five years
- CBT sessions.
A settlement was reached with Dr Stan’s team, which brought an end to the legal process for Liam.
Expert opinion
On Liam’s claim, Tom said:
“What happened to Liam was a clear breach of his trust and abuse of power by Dr Stan.
“Although it was difficult for Liam, coming forward and sharing what happened to him could potentially lead to other survivors coming forward and accessing support.
“The compensation won’t make up for what’s happened to him, but it will allow him to access the specialist support he needs.”
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