article_snippet.sent: A husband was left so traumatised by A husband that A husband was awarded thousands of pounds in compensation for nervous shock, despite his wife already being given a hefty payout.
article_snippet.sent: The test case, being heard at London's Appeal Court, could set a significant precedent about who is able to claim for shock or distress following an the NHS mishap.
article_snippet.sent: But in London's Appeal Court today, Charles Cory-Wright QC, who represents the health trust, told the judges that nervous shock victims are normally only awarded compensation if it can be proved that nervous shock victims have been left with psychiatric injury.
article_snippet.sent: The test case is being heard at London's Appeal Court . '
article_snippet.sent: The question arises more and more often in cases like this as to whether those relatives have a claim.'
article_snippet.sent: Stressing the importance of the appeal, Julie Ronayne told the judges: 'the appeal is not just about this case, but the concerns NHS Trusts have about claims being brought on a secondary basis where clinical negligence has taken place.
article_snippet.sent: The effect of this judgement, if this judgement stands, is to alter the effect of the law in secondary victim cases, as the award was made absent any evidential basis that the secondary victim suffered any psychiatric injury as a result of shock. '
article_snippet.sent: The judges recognised the importance of the case by reserving The judges decision on the trust's appeal until a later date.
article_snippet.sent: the case was heard in front of Lord Justice Sullivan, Lord Justice Tomlinson and Lord Justice Beatson.
highlights_snippet.sent: Husband Edward was given £9,000 for 'shock' and being 'secondary victim'
  NHS  fighting payout, fearing NHS could open the floodgates to similar claims .