At the age of just 10 months old, Miki Lin Gao was admitted to Peterborough District Hospital with septicaemic shock, a bleeding disorder known as coagulopathy, and multiple organ failure. The severity of her condition meant that doctors had to amputate both of her legs. Miki is now 6 years old, and up to 300,000 in medical negligence compensation is being sought by her father, Hou Chun Lin, who has begun legal proceedings against Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Lin argues that hospital staff were negligent when they failed to admit his daughter for treatment when he first took her to hospital. He has issued a High Court writ which states that when Miki was originally taken to the accident and emergency department at Peterborough District Hospital with a skin infection, staff turned them away, telling Mr Lin to take her home and recommending paracetemol.

The following morning, Miki’s condition had become even worse, and Mr Lin took her back to the hospital. He speaks little English, but they were seen by an interpreter and a Cantonese-speaking doctor. However, staff once again refused to admit his daughter for treatment. It wasn’t until his third visit that staff realised the seriousness of the situation. He handed a note to a nurse reading “please save my daughter”, and she was then admitted and diagnosed with multiple organ failure and septicaemic shock. Both of her legs had to be amputated immediately – her right leg was amputated below the knee and her left leg was removed above the knee.

If Miki had been admitted sooner, doctors could have treated her skin condition and, in all likelihood, she would have made a full recovery, Mr Lin’s High Court write states.

A Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman confirmed that legal action was in progress, but declined to offer any further comment.

Find out more about the law in cases of medical negligence.