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$5.8m payout for brain-damaged girl

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A famous children's hospital in London agreed last month to pay out £2.8 million (S$5.8 million) to a girl who was left brain damaged when glue was accidently injected into her brain.

Maisha Najeeb (right) was 10 years old when she underwent an operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2010.

The operation involved injecting glue to block bleeding blood vessels. Dye was also to be injected into an artery in her brain as part of the procedure.

But the syringes got mixed up, leaving her with permanent brain damage.

Maisha was healthy when she entered hospital, despite suffering from a rare condition in which arteries and veins can become tangled.

The court heard that she is now in a wheelchair, can barely move, is blind in one eye, needs round-the-clock care and suffers from painful spasms in her legs.

Judge William Birtles at London's High Court approved the £2.8 million settlement against Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children National Health Service (NHS) Trust.

Maisha will also receive £383,000 a year until she turns 19, after which it will increase to £423,000 per year for as long as she lives.

The court heard how there were no labels on the syringes to identify which was glue and which was dye, AFP reported.

Said the trust's lawyer Neil Block: "We can't wind the clock back. We hope there are now systems and procedures in place to ensure such a tragic mistake cannot be made again."

Maisha's father Sadir Hussain said his daughter's life was "ruined", adding: "All her dreams have been broken."

"I hope that by bringing this case, lessons will have been learned to avoid this happening to other families," he said.

If Maisha lives until she is 64, as an expert hired by her family said was expected, then the NHS would have to pay out almost £24.2m.

The hospital, which admitted liability, offered "unreserved apologies for the shortcomings in her care", the Guardian reported. It could not say if any member of staff had been disciplined over the incident.

Ms Deborah Evans, chief executive of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said the money would pay for the 24/7 care that Maisha will need.

She said: "While this is possibly the largest agreed payment we have seen, the amount is dependent on life expectancy and will never replace the life she would have led."