A BBC Spotlight programme aired on 19 November 2019 highlights the unprecedented level of epidural blood patches, misdiagnoses, misprescription and inappropriate treatment of neurology patients under the care of Dr Michael Watt and oversight failings on the part of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

BBC Spotlight reports that around 1 in 5 recall patients were misdiagnosed and around 1 in 4 recall patients were misprescribed.

Furthermore, BBC Spotlight reports that Dr Watt carried out more epidural blood patches than any of the 96 individual health trusts that responded to their survey. Harrowingly, the programme alleges that none of Dr Watt’s patients had the condition for which he was treating them for by way of epidural blood patch.

BBC Spotlight signified the important issue of informed consent in medical practice. Informed consent means that a patient must be given all of the information about what medical treatment or a procedure involves, the benefits, the risks and complications, whether there are reasonable alternatives, and what will happen if they do not proceed with the proposed treatment or procedure. It appears that some of Dr Watt’s patients underwent procedures such as lumbar punctures and epidural blood patches without proper and informed consent. 

HHD Solicitors are already instructed by Dr Watt patients to investigate and pursue medical negligence actions against the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.  If you are a patient of Dr Watt or a former patient of Dr Watt and believe you may have been affected, please contact our experienced medical negligence team at HHD, fionasterritt@hhdsolicitors.com or laurenjones@hhdsolicitors.com