Jack Hurn: Dudley practice admits breach of duty over vaccine death

Jack Hurn, from Redditch, suffered blood clots on the brain after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Revival Fires Clinic in Dudley in June 2021.

Mr Hurn's family are now taking legal action against Anchor Medical Practice in Netherton. In a letter sent to the lawyers representing Mr Hurn's family, the practice admitted that he should have been told that there was a 1:50,000 chance that someone his age would suffer blood clots as a result of the AstraZeneca jab.

Mr Hurn and his partner Alex Jones were told the risk was 1:250,000, which his family claims would have been a factor in the pair accepting the AstraZeneca vaccine instead of rebooking to receive the Pfizer vaccine at a later date.

Jack and his partner Alex Jones had just bought their first home (Image: Handout)

Michael Portman-Hann, associate at FBC Manby Bowdler, said: “At the time Jack and Alex went to the vaccination centre, alternatives to AstraZeneca were already being offered to 18 to 29-year-olds because the risk of blood clots had been identified. They should have been given the correct information to make an informed decision.

“I am pleased that Anchor Medical Practice, which was responsible for the vaccination centre, has admitted breach of duty in that Jack wasn’t given the correct information.

"But I’m disappointed that they have denied liability on the grounds that there is no evidence Jack wouldn’t have accepted the AstraZeneca jab even if he had been told the correct risk, particularly in light of the findings of HM Coroner at the Inquest into his death, who considered that the advice provided on risks was factored into Jack’s decision making".

Jack with his family in Oahu (Image: Handout)

In the letter to Mr Portman-Hann, legal firm Browne Jacobson, who represent the practice, said: “We wish to convey sincere condolences. We appreciate that at the heart of this claim, there is a family which has suffered a significant bereavement.”

“It is admitted that Jack was advised of the incorrect risk magnitude when he provided consent to undergo the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on May 29 2021. It is admitted that this failure to provide the correct risk magnitude for blood clots at the time of obtaining Jack’s consent for the vaccine was a breach of duty.”

However, the letter disputes the family’s claim that Jack wouldn’t have had the vaccine if he had known the real risk.

It continued: “There was a discussion with Mr Hurn and his partner about re-booking so that they could receive the Pfizer vaccine but they chose not to come back at a different time.

“On that basis, medical causation is admitted but factual causation is not. Accordingly, liability is denied overall.”

Jack (right) with dad Pete, sister Abby and mum Tracey (Image: Handout)

Astra Zeneca has since voluntarily withdrawn the Oxford-developed vaccine months after the pharmaceutical giant admitted for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect.

A spokesperson for Anchor Medical Practice said: "Our deepest condolences are with Jack's friends and family following his tragic death.

"We are in legal conversations, so it is hard to comment in full on the background.

"Part of the vaccine programme was delivered by Dudley and Netherton Primary Care Network (PCN). Anchor Medical Practice was the lead Practice for the PCN at the time of the vaccination programme. "This could explain why Anchor Medical Practice is named as the defendant in this case, as PCN's are not legal entities in the same way that a practice is.

"Please bear in mind that the vaccination programme was not solely the responsibility of Anchor Medical Practice, and it was not the location of the vaccination clinics.

"This was a joint enterprise carried out by Dudley and Netherton Primary Care Network.

"The clinicians working at the centre, based at Revival Fires, on the day of the vaccination in question were from across the PCN practices".